WICHITA FALLS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Volleyball closed out the weekend in Texas at the Midwestern State tournament. The Rangers went on to win the opening set of the day against Drury before losing the next three and falling to Western New Mexico 3-0.

The Rangers overall on the weekend and season drop to 1-3.

MATCH 1:

Macy Shreffler was the team leader in kills with 12, followed by Carmae Jones and Erika Asencio Soriano with 6.

Shreffler got things started early with the first kill of the match before the Rangers scored the first three and seven of the first nine for a 7-2 early lead. Shreffler had three of those kills. Northwestern continued to hold the lead following a block by Jimenez and Lalane for the 10-5 lead. The Ranger continued to contain Drury in the opening set, answering any run by the opponent. Kills by Jones, Shreffler and Ivanny Blackwood pushed the Rangers lead to 17-12. A service ace by Jimenez followed by a kill from Jones and Asencio Soriano had the lead at 22-15. The Rangers closed out the set victory after back to back attack errors by Drury and a 25-18 victory for the Ranger in set one.

In the second set Drury jumped out fast this time with six of the first eight points of the set after picking up two blocks along with two service aces. Drury extended their lead to 10-2 over the Rangers. Northwestern jumped back into the set scoring four straight with a kill by Jimenez starting the rally before cutting the deficit to 15-11. The lead for Drury continued to 20-17 before extending the Ranger deficit back to five as Drury scored two straight to end the set at 25-20 and even the match 1-1.

Northwestern, looking to bounce back and take the match lead back, scored the first two of set three after a kill by Shreffler. A block by Mikayla White, Carmae Jones, and Ivanny Blackwood kept the lead at 8-4 in favor of the Rangers. Northwestern extended the lead to 13-7 after three straight points and later to 18-11 following attack errors. Drury then struck for six straight points and eight of nine points to bring their deficit down to one. After tying the set three times Drury later took the lead at 24-23 before closing the set out 25-23. This gave Drury a 2-1 match lead.

In the fourth set the two teams traded points in the early going with three quick lead changes and ties before Drury took a 5-3 advantage. Drury maintained the lead until 9-9 when the Rangers tied it on a kill from Shreffler and two attack errors. Drury then extended the lead following a 9-1 run to build a 22-12 lead over the Rangers. Drury then got three of the next five points to win the set 25-13 and the match 3-1 overall over the Rangers.

MATCH 2:

In the second match of the afternoon Western New Mexico led the whole way in the opening set jumping out to an early 4-0 lead before Macy Shreffler got the Rangers on the board. Western New Mexico matched the Rangers continuing to hold the four point advantage to 11-7. Rangers were able to then bring it within one at 12-11 following a couple of blocks by Lalane, Jones, and Shreffler. Western New Mexico then pushed their lead back to four at 20-16 over the Rangers. Western New Mexico closed the opening set out with the last three points to take a set victory 25-19 and a 1-0 match lead. 

In set two the Rangers were quick to respond with the first three points on kills by Jimenez, and Ece Ozdemir. The Rangers built a 7-1 advantage to start the set. Western New Mexico however came back to even the set at 9-9 before taking their first lead at 10-9. Their lead built, extending it to 15-11. The Ranger came back to get back within two but Western New Mexico pushed it back to 24-18 before closing the set out 25-20 over the Rangers. 

The two teams battled in the early going of set three tying on three different spots as a kill by Jimenez made it 3-3, followed by a Western New Mexico error at 6-6 and a Ranger error at 7-7. Western New Mexico then jumped out to a 13-9 lead after three straight points. A kill by Lalane brought the Rangers back within one. Western New Mexico fired with three straight kills and five straight points overall building a 20-16 lead before closing out the set 25-19. Western New Mexico won the match 3-0 overall over the Rangers.

Rangers travel to the 2024 Tiger Classic next weekend starting on Friday September 13th hosted by Fort Hays State.