By NICK VILLALOBOS
Student Reporter
After a solid performance against conference rival Southwestern Thursday, winning three sets to two, the Savage Storm of Southeastern turned the tides on the Rangers with a three-sets-to-two victory. It was the Rangers’ last Great American Conference game of the season.
Northwestern opened the night by winning the first two sets 25-18 and 25-19. As they headed to the half, the Rangers were up two sets to zero. However, the Savage Storm responded in the second half.
When the third set got underway, the Savage Storm took control. With help from Storm’s Ariel Sanders, Emily Gentle, Courtney Miller, Julia Benford and Alissa Benson, Southeastern was able to take the set 25-13.
In the fourth set, Northwestern built an early 5-3 lead but was soon tracked back down by the Storm. The Savage Storm was able to even the set up at 6-6. After some costly service and attack mistakes by the Rangers, the Storm was able to lengthen their lead to 16-12. Northwestern tried a late rally but it was too little, too late. The Storm took set four with a narrow 25-18 win.
After the fourth set win for the Savage Storm, a fifth and final set was played. In the first-to-15-points fifth set, the Ranges were able to jump to an early 5-0 lead. The early lead forced Southeastern to use a timeout. The timeout would prove to be highly beneficial for the Storm as they went on an 8-0 run, putting the game at 8-5. The Rangers were able to close the gap to 8-9 thanks to a big defensive night by Alina Fierro and Suka Tafao. Despite the great defensive nights by the two, the Storm was able to take the set 15-10 and the match.
Fierro finished the night with a match-high 22 digs. Tafao finished with 17 digs and an impressive 35 assists. Northwestern was led by Ashanti Banks, Elisa Bentson and Hayley Brattain. Banks finished with 16.5 points, 15 kills and a .119 hitting percentage. Bentson finished with 16 points, 11 kills and a .280 hitting percentage. Brattain finished with 9.5 points, nine kills and a .320 hitting percentage.
Southwestern was led by Megan Kunkel, Emily Gentle, Courtney Miller, Ariel Sanders and Julia Benford. Kunkel finished with 16.5 points, 14 kills and 16 digs. Gentle finished with 15.5 points, 13 kills and eight digs. Miller, Sanders and Benford finished with a combined 33 points.
The Rangers fell to a 17-10 overall record and finished with an 8-6 record in the GAC.