ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Volleyball opened conference play in Percefull Fieldhouse Tuesday evening with a perfect 3-0 sweep over the Tigers. 

The Rangers improved to 4-5 on the season with a 1-0 Great American Conference record. East Central falls to 5-4 with an 0-1 conference mark. 

Northwestern was led by Erika Asencio Soriano with 10 kills, followed by Carmae Jones, Ece Ozdemir, Ivanny Blackwood each with four blacks on the evening. Hennesys Lalane had 21 assists and Brianda Diaz with eight digs. 

The Rangers wasted no time jumping out to a great start with a kill by Erika Asencio Soriano for the first of three straight points as the Rangers took an early 3-0 lead. The Tigers battled back to even the set 3-3 before taking a 5-3 lead with five straight points on four kills and a service ace. Ivanny Blackwood and Carmae Jones then had her first of four blocks in the match to help build the lead back before being tied at 8-8. Mariela Jimenez started the next run for the Rangers with a kill for the first of four straight for the Rangers. This helped build a 13-9 lead. The Rangers led 15-11 before Erika Asencio Soriano started a 8-1 run as the Rangers opened a 22-12 lead over East Central. Northwestern closed out the set victory after a block by Jimenez and Lalane for the 25-14 set one victory and a 1-0 match lead. 

East Central had the first point before taking a 7-4 lead over the Rangers. However three straight finishes off by an Asencio Soriano kill had the Rangers even again at 7-7. After trailing 11-10 Carmae Jones tied the set at 11 with a kill before back to back blocks first by Mariela Jimenez and Ece Ozdemir put the Rangers back in front. Northwestern continued to push their way back in front as six of the next eight points had the Rangers building a 19-14 lead. A block by Lalane and Jimenez followed by a Karsyn Smith service ace helped build the lead. East Central came back to take a late lead in set two with a 22-20 lead following an 8-1 lead. Ivanny Blackwood pushed one past the East Central defense for a kill before four straight points from another Blackwood kill had the Rangers out in front. Blackwood and Ozdemir block out the set win for a 2-0 match lead. 

Northwestern, looking to finish the match, jumped out to a 5-1 lead over the Tigers as Ivanny Blackwood continued the momentum from set two with the opening kill of the set. Kills by Ece Ozdemir and Carmae Jones had the Rangers leading 5-1. After building a 9-3 lead over the Tigers the Rangers scored four straight with a 13-5 lead after Erika Asencio Soriano had two kills and an ace by Ozdemir. A kill by Hennesys Lalane put the lead to double digits at 20-10 before leading 23-10 following a service ace from Brianda Diaz and a kill by Ece Ozdemir. East Central was able to score six straight late but a kill by Mariela Jimenez assisted by Hennesys Lalane closed out the set win and the sweep over East Central to start conference play. 

The Rangers are hosting a tournament on September 20th through the 21st with three matches. Northwestern faces Southwestern College on Friday evening before playing two on Saturday against William Jewell College and Tabor College.