By Logan Jones
Asst. Sports Editor
After their hot 8-1 start, the Lady Rangers volleyball team hit a bit of a snag in the first week of September. Northwestern loss its GAC opener to Oklahoma Baptist before going 2-2 at the MIAA-GAC Challenge.
NWOSU traveled to Shawnee, Oklahoma on September 4 and took on the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist University in their first
GAC matchup of the season. Both teams fought back and forth, but ultimately, the Lady Rangers fell three matches to one.
In a very close first set, the Bison matched the Rangers point for point.
That was until a costly error by the red and black allowed Oklahoma Baptist to take the lead 17-16. Northwestern tried to battle back but just fell short, losing the set 25-23.
The Lady Rangers answered back in the second set with a dominating performance. After taking an early 12-6 lead, the girls never let up, eventually taking the set by a score of 25-12.
The third set began much like the second, with the Rangers jumping out to a 12-8 lead. However, the Bison battled back and tied the set at 14 all and then took the set, 25-19.
In the final fourth set, the momentum had shifted in favor of Oklahoma Baptist. Unable to pick up steam, NWOSU fell 25-18, losing the set and the match.
Falling to 8-2 on the season, the Lady Rangers hoped to change their luck as they entered the MIAA-GAC Challenge.
The girls had a rough first day as the lost to the nationally ranked University of Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State University.
NWOSU didn’t seem to have its flare as they took on UCO, losing three sets in a row. The Lady Rangers tried to answer back in their match against Pitt State, taking the first set but lost three sets again to lose their second match of the day.
Northwestern came into the second day wanting some payback against Missouri Southern State and Ft. Hays State.
The Lady Rangers came out rolling, taking the first two sets from Missouri Southern. After losing the third, the red and black quickly dispatched the Lions, winning the fourth set and the match.
With the tides changing, the girls took care of business against Ft. Hays State, sweeping the match in 3 sets.
The Lady Rangers move to a 10-4 overall record and an 0-1 record in the GAC.
The red and back are set to return home to Percefull Fieldhouse on September 11 as the take on Oklahoma Panhandle State at 7 p.m.