HAYS, KANSAS – The Northwestern Oklahoma State Volleyball team dropped both of their matches on Friday to Fort Hays State University and New Mexico Highlands University on the final day of the Tiger Classic. 

In game one of the day the Rangers faced tournament host Fort Hays State. The Tigers outlasted a late Ranger push to take the first set 25-14. Northwestern kept the second set close until a late six point run by the Tigers ended set two 25-14. The Rangers battled hard once again in the third set going on a five-point run to bring the Tigers lead to six at 17-11. Fort Hays would fend off Northwestern's come back bid to take set three 25-15 and win the match in three straight sets. 

Tess De Zanet led the Rangers offensively with 10 kills followed by Ece Ozdemir and Cameryn Barclay who had six kills each. Mikayla White pitched in 21 assists, her fourth match this season with 20 plus assists. 

In Game two of the day, Northwestern took on New Mexico Highlands University. The Lady Rangers fought tough throughout the set but the Cowgirls came away with set one 25-11. Set two saw Northwestern jump out to an early 3-0 lead with two points from a Ece Ozdemir kill and service ace. The Cowgirls would tie it up at six but the Lady Rangers went on a 10-3 run to take a 16-9 lead midway through the second set. Northwestern would drop a heart breaker in set two 26-24, after New Mexico Highlands went on a run late in the set. Northwestern battled back, however, taking a 15-10 lead midway through the set. The two sides battled back and forth through the remainder of the set, but Northwestern came out on top 26-24. Set four saw another back-and-forth affair that ended the Lady Rangers way with a 25-17 win. Northwestern would fall in set five 15-5 and drop the match 3-2. 

Northwestern was led in match two by Ece Ozdemir with 21 kills and Tess De Zanet with 13. Mikayla White contributed 41 assists for the Lady Rangers. 

Northwestern will be in action again on Tuesday, as they travel to Ada, Oklahoma to take on East Central in Great American Conference play.  

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