Alva Review-Courier -

SHAWNEE, Okla. – Northwestern Volleyball took the court in the semifinals to face off against their rivals Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Rangers played outstanding offense and defense, toppling the Bulldogs in a close five set match. Addison Wimmer continued to lead her team in kills with 20. Cameron Lobb collected 42 assists and Andrea Coady accumulated 22 digs. Wimmer and Tarra Parks picked up another double-double for the tournament. The win sends the Rangers to the championship for the first time in program history.

Set One

The Rangers capitalized on Southwestern's errors and fed off their momentum from yesterday to propel them into an early lead. Addison Wimmer and Ravyn Burns contributed a kill each to Northwestern's 4-2 lead. Courtney Russell fired off a middle kill to the corner. The Rangers evenly spread out their points with a solo block and kill from Tarra Parks which extended their lead 8-4. The Bulldogs countered with a deep corner kill. Carmae Jones fired back with a ten foot line kill from the middle. Wimmer contributed another kill to push Southwestern into a timeout at 11-6.

Out of the timeout, Andrea Coady kept it pushing for the Rangers with a service ace. Russell came around on a slide contributing another kill. The Bulldogs fought back with a kill and block to force Northwestern into a timeout and close the gap 14-10.

Out of the timeout, Burns fired off another kill. The two teams settled into a stalemate exchanging point for point. A kill and soloblock from Southwestern closed the gap to one point 18-17 and pushed the Rangers into a timeout. Out of the break, Jones contributed a kill. The Bulldogs fired back with a 6-0 run to take the lead 23-19. Setter Cameron Lobb ended their run with a one-handed setter dump. Southwestern countered with back to back kills to take the set 25-20.

Set Two

Southwestern opened the second set with the same momentum they closed the first with opening a 6-1 lead following a 5-0 run as the Rangers used a timeout. Wimmer got things started out of the break with a kill as the Rangers trailed 9-3 before a 7-0 run by the Rangers switched the momentum taking a 10-9 lead. A Bulldog service error sparked the run as Russell, Lobb, and Burns followed with three straight kills. With the Rangers trailing 9-8, Burns flipped the score with a kill followed by a block to give the Rangers their first lead of the second set.

The Bulldogs stopped the run at eight as the Rangers led 11-9 but Northwestern bounced right back with a second large run opening a 19-11 lead. On the runs Parks had four of her seven kills to that point in the match mixed with two Bulldog errors. After Southwestern ended the run from a kill, Northwestern wasted zero time answering back and closing out the second set. Northwestern had two blocks each coming from Carmae Jones and a service ace by Parks to win the set. The second Jones block pushed the Rangers to victory at 25-12 to even the match at 1-1.

Set Three

Unlike the first two sets the third started with both teams going back and forth not letting either team open a lead. Southwestern opened the scoring in the third before a Burns kill and Bulldog error gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. Teams traded as a Wimmer kill through the block tied the score back at 3-3. It remained tied through a 5-5 score before a Wimmer kill and a Bulldog attack error stretched the lead to two at 7-5. The two teams settled in once again exchanging point for point.

Back to back kills from Parks and Jones allowed Northwestern to pull away and forced Southwestern into a timeout 11-9. The Bulldogs heated up out of the timeout stringing together a kill and back to back blocks to close on the Rangers.

The two teams battled back and forth until Northwestern started to pull away again with a kill from Wimmer and service ace from Lobb at 17-13. The Bulldogs countered with back to back kills. The Rangers continued advancing off Southwestern errors and forced them into a timeout at 19-15. Burns contributed a huge solo block to keep the momentum on Northwestern's side. A back row kill from Wimmer allowed the Rangers to clinch the third 25-17 and lead the match 2-1.

Set Four

Northwestern kept their momentum with a ten foot line kill from Jones. The Bulldogs fired back with back to back deep corner kills to lead 3-2. Parks fired back with a kill. Southwestern shifted the momentum as they started to run away with 4-0 run to force the Rangers into a timeout 7-4. Out of the timeout, Northwestern benefited off of a service error. A beautiful one handed set from Lobb and kill from Wimmer allowed the Rangers to close the gap 10-7. Parks contributed a deep corner kill and Jones fired off a solo block to further close the gap and force the Bulldogs into a timeout at 11-10.

Out of the timeout, Southwestern extended their lead with a kill and ace serve. Parks broke the 5-0 run with a cross court kill to leave Northwestern trailing 17-12. Wimmer fired off back to back kills. The Bulldogs continued running with a setter dump. Burns countered with back to back kills and Parks contributed a ace serve to closing the gap 24-19. An attack error from Northwestern allowed the Bulldogs to take the fourth 25-20.

Set Five

The Bulldogs started the fifth with a massive solo block. Parks fired back with a cross court kill. Jones advanced the momentum with a solo block. Southwestern responded with a kill. Northwestern started to pull away with a kill from Wimmer and an ace from Lobb 5-3. The Bulldogs countered with a cross court kill. After a long rally, Russell contributed a deep corner push. Southwestern fought back with a 3-0 run to retake the lead 7-6 and force the Rangers into a timeout.

Out of the timeout, Northwestern retook their lead with a huge block from Parks and dig and from Russell. Back to back kills from Russell and Burns extended the Rangers lead 10-7 and forced the Bulldogs into a timeout. Out of the timeout, Burns stayed hot, firing off another kill. Back to back points from Southwestern forced the Rangers into a timeout 11-10. Amazing defense and back to back kills from Wimmer allowed Northwestern to clinch the match 15-12.

The championship game vs Harding was set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12.