by Ashley Watts, Sports Editor
Northwestern Oklahoma State University finished out the fall 2019 season with a record of 22-10 and 12-4 in conference play.
This is the best finish for the Lady Rangers in the regular season since moving to Division II and joining the Great American Conference in 2012.
Head coach Fred Aubuchon started coaching the Lady Rangers this fall, and is pleased with the outcome of the season so far. Aubochon also brought an assistant coach with him that played for his team at his last school.
“Its been a fantastic season,” Aubuchon said. “I couldn’t ask anymore from these girls.”
Not only did volleyball have a successful season, but multiple players from the team were named GAC volleyball player of the week. Junior Sydnee Miller was named GAC Defensive Player of the Week a total of three times in the regular season, and redshirt senior Kiauna Clark was named the GAC Co-Offensive player one time throughout the season. The same week Clark was named GAC player of the week she was also named American Volleyball Coaches Association national player of the week for Division II.
This is the first national player of the week that Northwestern has had for volleyball.
With the close of the regular season the volleyball team will be traveling to Hot Springs, Arkansas to take part in the GAC volleyball tournament. Northwestern is placed as the second seed and will play No. 7 Ouachita Baptist in their first game. “I couldn’t be more excited for the tournament,” Aubuchon said. “We are in a good starting position.”
Last year at the GAC tournament Northwestern faced the top seeded team, Harding, and lost 2-3. This was the second year in a row that Northwestern made the tournament. Northwestern played one of the biggest games of the year last Thursday as they hosted top seed Oklahoma Baptist.
A lot of people showed up for the game that would determine whether Oklahoma Baptist would be No. 1 by themselves or have to share the spot with Northwestern.
“During games like Thursday’s I have two things going through my mind,” Aubuchon said. “I am invested in the moment and I then think ahead to the next position.”
Aubuchon also committed on how he prepares for games especially the big ones like last Thursday’s.
“I put together a solid game plan to follow and I try to put the girls in a situation to be successful,’ Aubuchon said.
Since the game against Oklahoma Baptist was so big a lot of people showed up to cheer on the Rangers. “We really appreciate all the support from the community and Ranger nation through athletic teams, students and faculty,” said assistant coach, Kortney Cunningham.
The GAC tournament starts on Nov. 20 in Hot Springs. The Lady Rangers will play Ouachita Baptist for the first game. If they win this game then they will play the winner of the Southwestern and Harding game.
“We could never have asked for a better group of girls to coach in our first year together,” Aubuchon said on behalf of him and Cunningham.