Alva Review-Courier -

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Northwestern Oklahoma State's volleyball team traveled Friday for a matchup against Henderson State in Arkadelphia. The Reddies came out fast taking the first set before closing out a match win over the Rangers 3-0.

The loss drops the Rangers to 7-10 on the season with a 3-3 conference mark while Henderson State improves to 13-6 overall and 5-2 in conference.

Set One

Henderson State jumped on the board first, after a kill by Mendoza of Henderson State followed by a service ace from Mendoza, giving them a 2-0 lead. Mariela Jimenez helped the Rangers first onto the board with a kill assisted by Cameron Lobb. The Rangers then trailed 2-1.

Henderson State went for four straight points to take a 6-1 lead. Jimenez' solo block cut the deficit to 6-2 but Henderson State answered again. The Reddies kept their lead at five before the Rangers climbed back to 13-10.

The home team answered back, though, with three straight blocks by Henderson State opening a 19-12 lead and forcing the Rangers into their first timeout. Henderson State traded points out of the timeout before closing out the set win 25-15 and taking a 1-0 match lead over the Rangers.

Set Two

The Reddies continued to build momentum off the first set: three straight kills and an attack error by the Rangers put Henderson State up 4-0 early. After a service error put the Rangers on the board in the set, Ivanny Blackwood had two straight kills followed by an Ece Ozdemir kill that tied the set at 4-4.

After the Rangers trailed 6-5. Ramger Mariela Jimenez started a run that tied the set at 6-6, followed by a Macy Shreffler kill and a block by Jimenez and Shreffler that gave Northwestern their first lead of the set at 8-6.

Mia Sanchez killed the Ranger run, starting one for the Reddies as they stormed back to tie the set before taking a 12-9 lead and forcing Northwestern into a timeout. Out of the break the Rangers went for three straight points started by a kill from Shreffler, tying the score at 12-12. The two teams traded points as the game continued to stay tied all the way to 16-16. Henderson State got the next three points, taking a 20-17 lead over the Rangers.

Henderson State took a 24-20 lead before the Rangers battled back. A kill by Macy Shreffler started a quick 3-0 run to cut the deficit to 24-23. Henderson State closed out the win at 25-23 over the Rangers for a 2-0 match lead.

Set Three

Northwestern shifted the momentum as the third set began with a service ace by Cameron Lobb, before a block by Blackwood and Carmae Jones and another service ace by Lobb gave the Rangers a 4-0 lead. Henderson State ended the run at four, though, on a kill by Quintanna.

Northwestern held the lead, keeping it at 9-4, after a kill by Ozdemir. Henderson State cut the deficit to three at 10-7 before continuing a run to 10-9. The set then was locked at 11-11.

The Reddies took their first lead of the set at 12-11 following a block by Brae Denton. The Reddies continued to strike, taking a 17-15 lead. Their lead grew to 20-16 before closing out the set and match victory at 25-17 following a Ranger error.