SENATOBIA - One of the most successful sophomore groups in the history of the Northwest volleyball program went out with a bang on Tuesday evening, as the Lady Rangers notched a pair of 3-0 sweeps against Freed-Hardeman JV and John Melvin University.

Northwest improved to 27-16 on the season, ahead of this weekend's Region 23 Tournament in Poplarville. The second-seeded Lady Rangers will take on No. 3 seed Itawamba on Friday afternoon at 5 P.M., with the winner advancing to play in the championship match on Saturday at 4 P.M.

Made up of Kaley Rikard, Cristen Cleveland, Micah Swift, Emma Norman, Kailey Gooch, Caroline Howard and Jacia Hayes, the Northwest sophomore class leaves with a pair of winning seasons and at least one Region 23 title. In the last two seasons, the Lady Rangers have sported a combined 42-30 record, while also helping coach Allison Burchyett to her 50th career victory on September 26.

Several of the aforementioned sophomores will also leave Northwest in the career record books. Though the postseason still lies ahead, Hayes is currently the program's career leader in kills (507) and total blocks (163). Cleveland currently holds career records in digs (553) and service aces (133), while Rikard is second in both categories with 70 aces and 545 digs.

Rikard also ranks third in career kills with 399, followed by Gooch in fourth (372) and Swift (341). Gooch (135) and Swift (108) also rank second and third in career total blocks, respectively, while Howard sits at fourth in career digs at 505.

Additionally, freshman Layla Dyer holds the career record in assists with 844 and counting, while fellow freshman, Sarah Bolin, sits at fifth with 326.


Northwest 3, Freed-Hardeman JV 0
(Set scores: 25-13, 25-22, 25-10)

Although Freed-Hardeman JV took the second set to the wire, Northwest pulled out dominant performances in the first and third sets, securing the shutout victory against the Lady Lions.

Northwest started out the first set with a 5-3 lead, before stretching the advantage to 17-9. After taking the 25-13 decision, the Lady Rangers fell behind to Freed-Hardeman JV, 9-5, early in the second set.

However, the Lady Rangers didn't trail for long, fighting back for an 11-11 tie. The Lady Lions briefly gained a 13-11 advantage, only for Northwest to pull ahead and gain the 25-22 margin, improving to a 2-0 match lead.

Northwest stretched its third set lead from 8-4 to 16-7, hitting cruise control the rest of the way and securing the three-set win.

Freshman Anna Lott led the Lady Rangers with eight kills, followed by six from Rikard. Cleveland, Rikard and Dyer all finished with nine digs in the win, with Rikard accounting for a team-high three service aces. 

Cleveland also finished with five kills and two service aces, while Hayes netted four kills of her own.


Northwest 3, John Melvin University 0
(Set scores: 25-12, 25-13, 25-21)

Though the third set proved to be a wire-to-wire battle, Northwest used a strong effort in the previous two sets and gained a slight edge late in the third, clinching the shutout win.

Northwest led nearly the entire way in the first two sets, turning a 7-4 advantage into a 25-12 victory in the opening set. The Lady Rangers carried over the momentum into the second set, building a 14-3 lead.

John Melvin University managed to trim the deficit to 17-10 midway through the second set, but with Rikard on serve, Northwest closed out the set with a 25-13 margin.

A 4-0 lead for the Lady Rangers soon turned into a 9-7 deficit, as the Millers rallied back. From there, the two teams traded points the rest of the way, until Northwest was finally able to hold serve down the stretch.

Gooch and Hayes combined for 13 kills in the win, with Hayes also adding three blocks. Cleveland finished with a team-high nine digs and five service aces, followed by eight digs from Howard and seven from Rikard.  Read Full Article