WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Volleyball opened the season at the Midwestern State Tournament. The Rangers split the two matches to start the season winning over Adams State 3-0 before dropping the evening match 3-1. 

Overall the Rangers are 1-1 on the season to start following the two matches. 

MATCH 1:

Northwestern struck early in the season opening match with a sweep over Adams State 3-0. In the opening set the Rangers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after a kill from Hennesys Lalane started the scoring as Brianda Diaz had two assists to start the match. Northwestern continued to maintain the lead as the lead stayed at 5-0 after back to back attack errors by Adams State had the Rangers in front 11-6. Adams State climbed back to cut their deficit to 12-11 but a kill by Lalane and two attack errors helped the Rangers build the four point advantage at 15-11. Northwestern made the final big run as the score was 19-17 in favor of the Rangers before the Rangers went on a 4-0 run started by a service error before two blocks by Mariela Jimenez helped push the lead to 23-17 before the Rangers closed out the 25-20 opening set victory over Adams State. 

In the second set Adams State jumped out early with a 5-2 advantage following a couple of Ranger attack errors. Northwestern rallied back to tie the set at 5-5 following three straight points on a service ace followed by a kill by Carmae Jones. Adams State and the Rangers were battling back point for point as the Rangers trailed set two 9-8. Rangers faced the largest deficit of the set at 17-13 before a 3-0 run started by Carmae Jones' kill and a Ivanny Blackwood had the Rangers back within one. Northwestern then down 23-19 stormed back with six straight points to steal set two and win 25-23. It started with a kill by Hennesys Lalane before four straight attack errors for Adams State. Rangers went up 2-0 in the match overall following the set two victory. 

The third and final set of the match started much to the degree of the first set as Mariela Jimenez fired off a kill before Erika Asencio Soriano had two straight. The Rangers went up 5-0 before Adams State rattled off their first point of the set. The Rangers continued to build the lead with a second 5-0 run in set three this one started by a black from Ivanny Blackwood, and Carmae Jones. Later a block by Macy Shreffler and Jimenez helped build an eight point lead. The Ranger lead hit double digits after a kill from Shreffler for a 17-7 advantage. 

MATCH 2:

In match two of the evening the Rangers played the host of the weekend in Midwestern State who jumped out to a 7-1 lead over the Rangers following a 6-0 run. A kill by Ivanny Blackwood slowed the rundown as the Rangers were able to climb back within three at 10-7 following a kill by Mariela Jimenez. Midwestern State kept the Rangers at a distance following a 4-0 run to rebuild a 21-14 lead over the Rangers. Midwestern State closed the opening set by a final score of 25-17. 

Set two, a kill by Macy Shreffler followed by a Brianda Diaz service ace pushed the Rangers lead to 6-2 in the second set. Rangers continued to build their lead after a kill by Carmae Jones taking a 13-8 lead over Midwestern State. Mariela Jimenez and Ivanny Blackwood kept the momentum on the Rangers side with a block to take a 17-12 lead. A couple of attack errors helped Midwestern State get closer as three before the Rangers scored the final three points of the set to take the second set 25-19 and even the match at 1-1.

In set three Midwestern State answered quickly, scoring the first three points and four of the first five. Back to back kills by Carmae Jones and Ivanny Blackwood helped cut it back down to one. After those two kills Midwestern State rallied for nine straight points opening a 13-4 lead over the Rangers in set two. With the Rangers trailing 17-11, Macy Shreffler started a 6-0 run to climb back within one after a kill by Shreffler, her third one on the run. Midwestern State closed out the set victory 25-22 taking a 2-1 match lead overall.

In the fourth set Midwestern State opened a 10-4 advantage over the Rangers following a 6 of 7 points to build the lead. Northwestern's best run came trailing 15-6 when the Rangers scored four straight and five of six. Started by a kill from Mariela Jimenez. 

Five straight points for the Rangers started by Shreffler ending with two kills by Jimenez to tie the score at 20-20. Midwestern State rallied for three straight to take the 25-22 set victory and a 3-1 match lead. 

The Rangers will close out the opening weekend tournament with an 11 AM match against Drury University followed by a 3:00 PM match against Western New Mexico. 

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