ALVA, Okla. – The Ouachita Tigers dropped their second consecutive five-set match on Saturday, as the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers defeated the Tigers 3-2 (17-25, 27-25, 25-21, 29-31, 6-15). Ouachita was led by Abby Pickett, who finished with 21 kills and three solo blocks.
 
Northwestern Oklahoma State (8-13, 6-5 GAC) took the first set from the Tigers behind a .452 attack percentage. The Rangers recorded 18 kills and only four attack errors while limiting the Tigers to 11 kills.
 
The Tigers (12-8, 6-5 GAC) tied the match, however, with a win in the second set behind Kori Bullard's six kills and no errors. Ouachita recorded only 11 kills in the set again but forced 10 attack errors by the Rangers to claim the set 27-25.
 
Bullard carried the Tigers through the third set, as well, finishing with five kills. Stephanie Pollnow and Pickett followed with three kills each, and the Tigers posted a team attack percentage of .294 in the set. The third set was won with a 5-1 run that featured two kills by Jayme Shell. The run gave Ouachita a 23-19 lead, and the Tigers eventually took the set on a service error by the Rangers.
 
In the fourth set, Ouachita jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but Northwestern answered immediately with a 5-1 run. The Tigers then took a 10-5 lead back on a 5-0 run, and Ouachita held its lead until the Rangers eventually tied the set at 16-16.
 
After a 4-0 run by the Rangers late in the fourth set, Northwestern took a 24-23 lead, but the Tigers did not allow the set to end and took a 25-24 lead. Ouachita had four different match-point opportunities in the set but could not capitalize, and Northwestern eventually forced a fifth set with a 31-29 win. Pickett led all players with nine kills in the set.
 
The Rangers dominated the final set, ending the match on an 11-3 run to defeat the Tigers 15-6 and steal the match. Ouachita was held to only five kills, while Northwestern had 11 kills and only one attack error.
 
Pickett's 21 kills and three solo blocks were both match-highs. Bullard followed with 17 kills and two solo blocks. Stormi Leonard led all players with 45 assists in the match, and Ashley Wake had a match-high 19 digs.
 
The Tigers currently sit in fifth place in the GAC with five conference matches remaining. Ouachita will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 29, as the Tigers host Harding University in Sturgis Physical Education Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.