LAS VEGAS, NM – The Northwestern Oklahoma State volleyball team wrapped up the second day of the Meadow City Classic with a split. The Rangers earned a five set win over Southeastern but fell in a tough match with Western New Mexico University.
Northwestern Oklahoma State opened the match with a 25-18 win in the first set. After Southeastern grabbed the first two points, the Rangers quickly settled in and kept the score close through the early stages. The teams went back and forth before reaching a 14-14 tie, but Northwestern found its rhythm from there.
Kaylah Thomas,
Ivanny Blackwood,
Andrea Djordjevic, and
Miah Matthias helped push the Rangers in front as they created separation late in the set. Northwestern carried that momentum to set point before
Kemelly Baez Miecznikoski put away the final kill off an assist from
Ryann Eastes, securing the 25-18 victory.
Southeastern Oklahoma State responded in the second set, taking a 25-22 win to even the match. Southeastern jumped ahead early and built an 8-2 advantage, forcing Northwestern to play from behind. The Rangers continued to battle, getting kills from
Andrea Djordjevic,
Kemelly Baez Miecznikoski,
Ivanny Blackwood, and
Miah Matthias as they worked their way back into the set. Northwestern made a late push, cutting the deficit to 23-22, but Southeastern closed out the final two points to secure the set and tie the match at 1-1.
Northwestern Oklahoma State came out firing in the third set, taking control early and cruising to a 25-9 victory. The Rangers opened with a 7-0 run, fueled by kills from
Kaylah Thomas and Tess de Zanet along with strong play at the net. Northwestern continued to add to its lead, stretching the advantage to 15-5 before pulling away even further.
Ivanny Blackwood,
Kemelly Baez Miecznikoski, and
Miah Matthias added kills as the Rangers stayed in control. Northwestern reached set point at 24-8 before Blackwood delivered the final kill to close out the dominant set and give the Rangers a 2-1 match lead.
Southeastern Oklahoma State forced a deciding fifth set after taking the fourth 25-20. Southeastern gained the early advantage, but Northwestern stayed within reach behind kills from
Kaylah Thomas,
Kemelly Baez Miecznikoski, and
Ivanny Blackwood. The Rangers continued to fight as the set progressed, with Miecznikoski and
Andrea Djordjevic helping cut into the deficit late. Northwestern made one final push, getting a kill from Tess de Zanet to make it 24-20, but Southeastern answered on the next point to finish the set and even the match at 2-2.
Northwestern Oklahoma State finished the match with a 15-13 win in a back-and-forth fifth set. Southeastern held the advantage for much of the set and took a 13-10 lead late, but the Rangers responded when it mattered most. Northwestern rattled off five straight points, highlighted by a kill from
Andrea Djordjevic and a block from
Kemelly Baez Miecznikoski to tie the set at 13. Djordjevic followed with another kill to put the Rangers at match point before Miecznikoski delivered the final kill, completing the comeback and giving Northwestern the 3-2 match victory.
In game two of the day, the Rangers fell in three straight sets to Western New Mexico. Northwestern fell in set one and two by a score of 25-17 and set three 25-15. The Rangers were led offensively in the match by Tess de Zanet who tallied eight kills and two blocks. The first set was tightly contested, The Rangers came back from an early 3-0 deficit to tie the game at three. Western New Mexico began to pull away but Northwestern once again came back to tie the game at 16. Western New Mexico pulled away to take set one.
Set two was back and forth through the early going. Western New Mexico pulled away mid way through the set, however the Rangers began to fight but the comeback attempt was short. Western New Mexico took set two 25-17.
Set three also began with a back and forth rally to start the match. The Rangers continued to fight, keeping the score close throughout the set. Western New Mexico began their run and struck back taking set 3 with a 25-15 win.
The Rangers will be back on the court on Tuesday, when they open up conference play against East Central at 6 p.m.
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