The Northwestern Oklahoma State volleyball team fell to Southern Nazarene, 3-2, on Thursday evening.
The Rangers took an early 6-1 lead over the Crimson Storm to begin set one. The Crimson Storm started to find their momentum and cut their deficit down to one to make it 7-6 in favor of the Rangers. With kills by Kemelly Baez Miecznikoski and Tess De Zanet, the Rangers started to punch back by making the score 9-8. With both the Rangers and Crimson Storm exchanging points, the Rangers continued to keep their 16-14 lead midway through the set. The Crimson Storm used kills to continue to keep the score close but the Rangers fought back harder, adding to their score and taking set one, 25-20. Â
To begin set two, the Rangers took their momentum from set one and continued it in set two, taking an early 6-0 lead over the Crimson Storm. The Rangers kept their streak going, extending their lead using kills by Miecznikoski, Kaylah Thomas, Ivanny Blackwood and de Zanet and making it a 12-3 lead over Southern Nazarene. The Crimson Storm started to close the gap and make it a 19-12 match, but Northwestern and Southern Nazarene both continued to exchange points to give the Rangers set two, 25-20.Â
To start set three, the Crimson Storm started off with a 5-1 lead over the Rangers, and continued to tack on points to extend their lead over the Rangers, making it 14-5 midway through the set. The Rangers started to fight back and cut their deficit using kills by Miecznikoski and Blackwood to make it a 19-12 game with the Crimson Storm still leading. Southern Nazarene continued to stay on top through the set and took set three, 25-19 over Northwestern.Â
Set four started off with both teams going back and forth, with Southern Nazarene taking the lead 5-3 over Northwestern. Points continued to be exchanged by both teams to keep the game within one point, with the Crimson Storm staying on top 9-8. The Storm used kills by Hawthorne, Richardson, Wright, and Mosley to keep their lead and take set four 25-17 over the Rangers.Â
Set five started with the Crimson Storm jumping out to an 8-1 lead over the Rangers. With kills by Blackwood and Mieczkowski, the Rangers added to their score making it a 12-4 game. The Crimson Storm didn't back down and continued their fight winning set five, 15-6 and taking the match 3-2.Â
The Rangers will be back in action on Nov. 3, when they take on Oklahoma Baptist at 6 p.m. inside Percefull Fieldhouse.
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit mwww.riderangersride.com  Â