By Megan Maharry
Sports Editor
The Lady Ranger volleyball team faced a tough two-game stretch at home on Oct. 5 and 6.
The Lady Rangers faced opponents Arkansas Tech and Harding University.
The Lady Rangers dropped both matches.
In Friday’s match-up against the Golden Suns of Arkansas Tech, the red and black dropped 3-0.
The Lady Rangers struggled to get control of the game in set one.
Arkansas Tech’s outside hitters proved tough to stop as they drilled in kill after kill. The Golden Suns took the first set convincingly, 13-25.
The second set looked up for the Lady Rangers as they came out firing with back-to-back kills from Hannah Williams and
Jennifer Eubanks to go on a 4-1 run.
Arkansas Tech didn’t let the Lady Rangers stay within range of the lead for long as they took off on their own 0-5 run and eventually secured the match 19-25.
In the final match, the Lady Rangers dropped 15-25.
Once again, the red and black had trouble gaining a solid lead.
Eubanks led her team with five kills in the set, but it was not enough to overcome the stellar offense of the Golden Suns.
Eubanks ended the game with a team-high nine kills, hitting at a .600 while Kaitlyn Robinson recorded 22 assists.
On Saturday, the Lady Rangers faced the No. 1 team in the Great American Conference: the Lady Bison of Harding University.
Harding, who are 8-1 in conference play, took the match 3-1.
The Lady Rangers dropped the first set 15-25. They only recorded a .073 hitting percentage as opposed to a .206 by the Lady Bison, who currently lead the conference in hitting percentage.
The Lady Rangers weren’t looking to be shut out as they bounced back in the second set with new energy.
Controlling the lead for nearly the entire set, the red and black were briefly tied at 16 all before going on a 7-1 run. This would eventually win them the set, 25-22.
The Lady Bison controlled the third set with a quick 13-7 lead. Unable to make up ground, the Lady Rangers fell 16-25.
The fourth and final set got away from the Lady Rangers despite five kills from redshirt-junior Kiauna Clark.
The Lady Rangers dropped 20-25.
Clark finished the match with 15 kills and freshman Taylor Brann had 45 assists. Williams totaled 11 kills and Eubanks recorded five blocks.
The Lady Rangers next gear up for the long trip to Arkansas where they will face Ouachita Baptist University on Oct. 12 followed by Henderson State University on Oct. 13.