Northwestern Oklahoma State University

ALVA, Okla. - The Northwestern Oklahoma State volleyball team fell to Southern Arkansas in a tough five set battle on Thursday night.

In set one, the Rangers and Mulerides exchanged back to back points to start off the set. The Rangers found some momentum taking an early 4-2 lead using kills by Kemelly Baez Miecznikoski and Tess De Zanet. The Muleriders found a way to take the lead from the Ranger winning 8-6 with kills by Dauenhaure, Cooper, and Killeen. The Rangers and Muleriders continued to exchange points keeping the set within two points, but the Rangers fought back evening the score making it 12-12. Both teams continued to keep the set within two with the Muleriders using kills by Killeen, Dauenhaure, and Vollmer, and the Rangers using kills by de Zanet, Djordjevic, Mbaya, and Mieczikoski. The Rangers took the moment at the end of the set taking set one 25-21. 

In set two, Northwestern took an early 4-1 lead over Southern Arkansas. Both teams exchanged points to start the set with the Rangers still taking a 7-4 lead over the Muleriders. Southern Arkansas found some momentum to take a 11-8 lead over Northwestern using kills by Killeen, Cooper, and Walker. Both teams continued to go back and forth exchanging point and making the score even 18-18. The Muleriders started to add the pressure using kills by Walker, and Killeen and taking the lead 21-18 over the Rangers. Southern Arkansas continued their run and took set two 25-21. 

In set three, the Rangers and Muleriders continued to exchange points back and fourth keeping the set within a two point deficit. Using kills by Adams, Mbaya, and Djordevic the Rangers started to gain some momentum taking the lead 10-6. The Rangers continued to keep their momentum going, taking the 17-12 lead over the Muleriders through the middle of the set. The Mulriders fought back, closing the gap and making the score 23-20 with the Rangers still ahead. The Muleriders came back and tied it up 23-23 but the Rangers fought back taking set three 26-14.

In set four, the Muleriders took an early 3-1 lead over the Rangers. Northwestern started to battle back making the score even 6-6 with kills by de Zanet, and Djordevic. The Muleriders started to gain the momentum back and gained the lead over the Rangers 13-10 with kills by Dauenhaure, Vollmer, and Killeen. Both teams continued to battle back and forth exchanging points, but the Muleriders attacked back taking the lead 22-18. The Muleriders didn't back down without a fight taking set four, 25-19. 

In set five, both teams fought back and forth exchanging points to keep the set even. The Muleriders found some momentum and extended their lead 6-4 with kills by Cooper and Vollmer. With the momentum still going, the Muleriders were able to add to their score making it 11-6. The Rangers didn't back down without a fight, adding to the score and keeping the game within a three point deficit. Southern Arkansas was able to come back and take set five 15-9 and take the match 3-2. 

The Rangers will be back in action on Friday, when they welcome Arkansas-Monticello to Percefull Fieldhouse at 4 p.m.

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