ALVA, Okla. – The Cameron University volleyball team lost their second match of the season to Northwestern Oklahoma State, as they fell 3-1 to the Rangers on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Aggies move to 12-14 overall on the season and 8-3 in non-conference play, while NWOSU moves to 15-8 this season.
Set one was back and forth with both teams neck and neck throughout. Cameron took the lead a few times, but the Rangers would bounce back and tie it up. After Cameron took a three point lead late at 22-19, Northwestern responded to cut the lead to one at 22-21. From there the Aggies scored the final three points and took set one 25-21.
Cristina Viera had four kills and no errors for CU while
Kendra Adams added four kills as well. The Aggies hit just .149 and only had one block, compared to NWOSU's four in the first frame.
The second set started out with both teams trading points, but the Rangers went on a five point run to force the Aggies to call a timeout, with NWOSU on top 16-8. From there the Rangers controlled the rest of the set two, hitting .292 as a team, on their way to a 25-15 set win to tie the match at one game apiece. The Rangers out hit the Aggies by hitting .320 with 10 kills compared to the Aggies .088 hitting percentage with nine kills.
Northwestern controlled the momentum coming out in set three on an 8-2 run. The Rangers used multiple rallies to extend their lead to 22-12, before a small three point run by the Aggies made them take a timeout. Cameron would only take one more point in the set, as NWOSU took set three 25-16, and took a 2-1 lead in the match. CU was held in the negatives in hitting with only 6 kills during set three, while Northwestern hit .188 on 15 kills.
The Cameron offensive attack found itself in set four, as they didn't let the Rangers build more than a three point lead, and then stole the lead later on scoring two straight points, making it 20-18. The two teams traded points and then Northwestern tied the set at 22 and then took the lead 23-22, leading to a CU timeout. The Rangers scored the final two points to take the set 25-22 and win the match 3-1. Again CU hit under .100 with 13 kills in the set, while NWOSU hit .178 with 14 kills.
Adams led the Aggies with 10 kills, while
Kat Evans had nine and
Jordan Escobar added eight.
Kayla Hebert had another double-double with 19 assists and 18 digs, with
Ingrid Boatman adding 12 assists and
Taylor Tepfer chipping in 18 digs of her own. Additionally, Viera had 16 digs and
Paige Holt led the team with three blocks.
Northwestern had three players with over 10 kills, with Asia Pipkin leading the way with 18 kills and 14 digs, while their setter, Suka Tafao, had 39 assists and 11 digs of her own.
Cameron hit just .072 in the match, while Northwestern hit .195 and controlled the battle at the net with 12 total blocks, compared to CU's four.
The Aggies will have a week off before they are back in action with a key Lone Star Conference contest when they head to Texas A&M-Kingsville on Nov. 8.
