ANDALUSIA, Ala. and BREWTON, Ala. - A rare tripleheader in two different locations proved to be a memorable day for Northwest, as the Lady Rangers rebounded from a loss to Lurleen B. Wallace by earning a pair of wins against Enterprise State and Coastal Alabama-North.
Northwest improved to 17-15 overall, surpassing last season's record win total. The Lady Rangers will also put their 2-0 record against MACCC opponents to the test on Monday against Pearl River, with the opening serve scheduled for 5 P.M.
Monday's match will be carried on
Ranger TV.
Lurleen B. Wallace 3, Northwest 1
(Set scores: 20-25, 25-23, 16-25, 19-25)
A strong effort in the opening set helped Northwest edge Lurleen B. Wallace in the second set, but the Lady Saints ultimately took the match by a 3-1 final.
Kailey Gooch and
Kaley Rikard combined for nearly half of the Lady Rangers' 41 kills, with both players earning 10 apiece. Rikard also accounted for 10 digs, just behind a team-high 14 from
Caroline Howard.
Jacia Hayes also collected nine kills, followed by eight kills, seven digs and two aces from
Cristen Cleveland.
Layla Dyer also posted a team-best 25 assists.
Northwest 3, Enterprise State 2
(Set scores: 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-12)
After falling in five sets earlier this season to Enterprise State, Northwest obtained revenge on Friday afternoon, upending the Boll Weevils in a five-set thriller.
All five sets were back and forth between both teams and Northwest managed to edge Enterprise State by three points in the winner-take-all fifth set.
Hayes and Rikard accounted for most of the Lady Rangers' kills, led by 15 from Hayes. Northwest also finished with 72 digs, led by 21 from Howard, 15 from Cleveland and 14 from Dyer.
Rikard also had nine digs to go with her 12 kills, while
Anna Lott added eight kills to go with her team-best seven blocks. Gooch also provided six blocks in the winning effort.
Northwest 3, Coastal Alabama-North 0
(Set scores: 26-24, 27-25, 25-14)
Forced to fight through two intense sets, Northwest finally wore down Coastal Alabama-North in the third and final set, closing out a long day with a shutout victory.
Hayes once again led Northwest with nine kills, followed closely by Rikard's eight kills. Dyer led the Lady Rangers with 22 assists and 10 digs, while Cleveland added eight kills and seven service aces.
Howard also posted nine digs and six aces, while Gooch and Lott accounted for six kills.
