Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SENATOBIA - It is often said "there's no place like home". For the Northwest volleyball program, "home" meant a return to the floor at Howard Coliseum and a pair of victories during the weekend's Northwest/Itawamba Crossover Tournament.

Jointly hosted by ICC and Northwest, the Lady Rangers' portion of the tournament featured matches against Champion Christian College and Snead State, along with a neutral match on Saturday morning between Pearl River and Champion Christian.

Northwest took a pair of wins against four-year program Champion Christian, while suffering its only loss to Snead State in a hard-fought 3-1 effort. The Lady Rangers will hit the road once again next weekend, with matches lined up at Coastal Alabama-East, Coastal Alabama-South and Pensacola State.


FRIDAY, SEPT. 17
Northwest 3, Champion Christian College 0
(Set scores: 25-16, 25-15, 25-11)

Northwest got the weekend's events started off right, as the Lady Rangers took the opening match by a 3-0 final against Champion Christian College.

A 12-6 lead early in the first set paved the way for Northwest to claim the opener, 25-16. The Lady Rangers once again jumped out to a strong start in the second set, leading the Lady Tigers 18-8, prompting a timeout from the visitors.

Champion Christian chipped away at the Lady Rangers' advantage coming out of the timeout, but Northwest quickly squashed any sign of a rally and held on for the 25-15 set win.

Holding a 2-0 match lead, Northwest never took its foot off the pedal in the third and final set, jumping out to a massive 12-3 advantage before claiming a 25-11 decision.


Snead State 3, Northwest 1
(Set scores: 21-25, 25-23, 16-25, 17-25)

Much like the first meeting between the two programs at Bishop State on August 28, Northwest and Snead State battled closely for a thrilling match in Friday's nightcap.

A back-and-forth battle went in favor of Snead State in the opening set, but not before the Lady Rangers took off for an 11-8 lead. The Lady Parsons chipped away at the deficit late in the first set, as the visitors turned a 19-17 deficit into a quick 21-19 advantage.

After Snead took the opening set, 25-21, Northwest once again gained the momentum back in the ensuing second set, stretching its lead to 19-15. The Lady Parsons once again called a timeout to regroup, but the Lady Rangers held on to claim a 25-23 second set win, tying the match at 1-1.

Snead State led 10-7 in the early goings of the third set and pulled away for a 25-16 win, putting Northwest on the ropes heading into the fourth set. Though the Lady Rangers remained within striking distance throughout, Snead never lost the momentum and ultimately took the match with the 25-17 clincher.


SATURDAY, SEPT. 18
Northwest 3, Champion Christian College 0
(Set scores: 25-13, 25-17, 25-17)

Champion Christian grabbed the momentum early in the first two sets, but Northwest rallied back both times to gain a 2-0 match lead, paving the way for a 3-0 overall victory and the weekend sweep of the Lady Tigers.

Trailing 4-1 in the opening set, the Lady Rangers regrouped and stormed back for a 13-7 lead. Northwest kept up the tempo the rest of the way, earning a strong 25-13 decision after the first set.

Leading 15-12 midway through the second set, Northwest broke free to claim 10 of the next 15 points to take a 2-0 match advantage. The Lady Tigers gave the home team all it could handle in the third set, but the Lady Rangers once again pulled away down the stretch to clinch the victory.