By RYAN SHUMAKER, Student Reporter
The Rangers volleyball team saw both victory and defeat in the past week.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University volleyball played against Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Nov. 4, and lost with a 3-0 score. But Northwestern volleyball came back with a vengeance on Nov. 5. Northwestern played East Central and won with a 3-1 score.
In the Rangers verse Southeastern game the Rangers jumped out to a quick lead in the first set, but a 7-1 run by the Storm led to a 25-21 set win for Southeastern. In the second set, which was a close back and forth affair, ended in a 25-17 win for the Storm, after a few tough errors by the Rangers. The Rangers led most of the way in the third set before the Storm made a run to tie it at 24-24. After a timeout by the Rangers, the Storm won two hard fought points and took the set and the match 26-24.
Some players that shined in the tough match were Jennifer Eubanks, a freshman; Natalie Fahey, a senior; Cassidy Hackett, a sophomore; Vanessa Maile, a senior and Asia Pipkin, a senior.
Eubanks and Fahey led the Rangers with 13 and 11 kills respectively. Hackett was the lead helper on the evening as she recorded 13 assists, followed by Maile who recorded 10. Pipkin was incredible from the service stripe as she recorded four aces against the Storm.
These players also were key players in the game against East Central on Nov. 5. Hannah Williams, a sophomore and Pipkin led the Rangers with 16 and 15 kills respectively. Hackett was the lead helper on the evening as she recorded 24 assists, followed by Maile who recorded 23. Williams was incredible from the service stripe as she recorded five aces against the Tigers.
In set one, East Central went on a seven point run early in this set to take a 10-2 lead. The Rangers would come back with a six point run of their own bringing the score to 11-10 mid way through. The rest of the set went back and forth eventually seeing the Tigers take the set 25-23. The next set was all Northwestern as they jumped out to a 10-4 early and never looked back eventually winning the set 25-15.
In the third set, East Central looked to be in control early but the Rangers hung with East Central the whole way. The Rangers would take a late lead and eventually win the set 25-20. The last set began with multiple large leads and ended in a close back and forth affair-seeing the Rangers come out on top winning 25-23 and taking the match 3-1.
Next Rangers volleyball will play host to arch rival Southwestern Oklahoma State Thursday at 7 p.m.