Alva Review-Courier -

BETHANY – Northwestern traveled for the team's first road conference match of the season. The Rangers fell 3-0 to the Crimson Storm for the Rangers first conference loss of the season.

Northwestern drops to 5-8 on the season with a 2-1 conference record. Southern Nazarene improves to 10-4 and a 2-1 conference record as well.

Set One

Northwestern jumped on the board early taking a 2-0 lead to start the match. A kill by Carmae Jones put the Rangers on the board. After multiple service errors between the two teams the Crimson Storm took an 8-4 lead. After a few more kills Southern Nazarene continued to lead this time at 10-6. The Rangers climbed right back as a kill by Jones followed by a service ace brought the Rangers back within one. Another Ranger run put Northwestern out in front at 12-11beginning with a kill from Erika Asencio Soriano followed by a kill from Ivanny Blackwood and a block from Blackwood and Jones. The two teams continued to battle as they were tied at 14-14. As the Crimson Storm took a 16-14 lead the Rangers used their first timeout. Out of the timeout the Rangers came back to tie the score at 18-18 after a kill from Asencio Soriano. Southern Nazarene opened another lead this time at 22-19 as the Rangers used their second timeout. A kill by Ece Ozdemir helped the Rangers tie the score at 23-23 forcing the home team into a timeout. Out of the break Southern Nazarene grabbed two straight points to take a 25-23 victory for set one and a 1-0 match lead.

Set Two

Ashley Finch started the second set with a kill to start a quick 2-0 run just like in set one before the Rangers got the team’s first point. Southern Nazarene led the majority of the second set opening a 5-2 lead. Northwestern grabbed two straight points from there on a kill from Blackwood followed by a block by Ozdemir and Jimenez. However, the Crimson Storm the next three of four points to take a four point lead back at 9-5. Southern Nazarene took a 13-8 lead over the Rangers. Northwestern then burned their first timeout,which sparked a run as out of the break took four straight points to get back within one. This was started by a Blackwood kill and Ozdemir before a service ace from Brianda Diaz. Out of the timeout the two teams continued to battle and trade points not separating from two points, until Southern Nazarene opened a 19-16 lead. The Rangers called a timeout at 21-17 getting the first point out of the timeout at 21-18 from a Jones kill. However, Southern Nazarene finished off their second straight set win this one 25-19 for a 2-0 match lead.

Set Three

Northwestern started on top this set with a kill by Asencio Soriano followed by a block from Jones and Blackwood to take an early 2-0 lead. After Southern Nazarene got their first point the Rangers took the next three on two kills from Blackwood followed by a block from Jones and Blackwood forcing the Storm into an early timeout. This helped Southern Nazarene strike back with four straight points to tie the set at 5-5 on a block from Bowie and Mauldin. Southern Nazarene continued from there grabbing five of the next seven points to take a 10-7 lead over the Rangers as Northwestern took their first timeout of the set. Out of a timeout Ece Ozdemir picked up another kill. As the score was 14-9 the Crimson Storm went on a 5-0 run to take a 19-9 lead. Southern Nazarene finished off their third set with a 25-16 win over the Rangers to complete the three set sweep.

Northwestern will be back in action at home on Tuesday evening with a match against rival Southwestern Oklahoma State, start time set for 6 p.m. in Percefull Fieldhouse.