ALVA, Oklahoma – The Ouachita volleyball team finished off a 2-0 road trip in Oklahoma with a 3-0 sweep over Northwestern Oklahoma State on Friday.
Final set scores were 25-20, 26-24, and 25-19. The Tigers improve to 9-10 overall and 5-2 in the Great American Conference. NWOSU falls to 8-12 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
Ouachita started the match with a 4-0 run in the first set and later went up 10-4. That hot start helped the Tigers maintain a lead the rest of the set despite the Rangers pulling to within one at 13-12 on a four-point run.
The second set was like the first with Ouachita in control early. NWOSU rallied to take a lead midway through the set before and back-and-forth rally left the Rangers with a 20-18 lead. Both teams then posted four-point runs, which left NWOSU with set point at 24-22, but Ouachita had the final blow with another four-point run on the serve of
Mack Bidwell to seal the set and go up 2-0 in the match.
Ella Irons had two of her 12 total kills in that final run.
Ouachita again controlled early in the third set, including a pair of six-point leads. NWOSU rallied to within one at 16-15, but Ouachita answered with four straight again on the serve of Bidwell to shift the momentum back to the Tigers for the final time.
Freshman
Kylie Craven led the Tigers with a career-high 16 kills and a .462 hitting percentage. She was also a force at the net defensive with three blocks. Bidwell finished with 37 assists and nine digs.
Delaney Gonzalez led the back row with 13 digs.
The Tigers are back at home next week, hosting East Central on Thursday, October 8 for Pink Out and Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday for Ouachita Volleyball Alumni Night.
