HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Six matches in three days proved to be a grueling schedule for the Northwest volleyball team in the Alabama/Mississippi Crossover Challenge this past weekend.
However, the Lady Rangers fought their way through each match and earned a pair of wins from the long weekend event, hosted by Wallace State-Hanceville. Northwest went 0-2 on Friday against Snead State and Calhoun, before splitting Saturday's action with a 3-1 victory against Lawson State and a close 3-2 loss to Lurleen B. Wallace.
Northwest ended the long weekend on Sunday afternoon, falling 3-1 to host Wallace State-Hanceville, before closing out the slate with a 3-0 triumph against Bevill State.
Now 5-6 on the season, the Lady Rangers are scheduled to travel to Hot Springs, Ark. this coming weekend, taking on Spurgeon College at 12 P.M. and host Champion Christian College at 2 P.M. on Saturday, September 14. Northwest will stay in the Natural State for a road match at Henderson State JV on Sept. 16, before closing out the long road slate at Freed-Hardeman JV on Thursday, Sept. 19.
Snead State 3, Northwest 1
(Set scores: 15-25, 25-23, 19-25, 21-25)
Freshman
Maddie Smith compiled a team-high 12 kills and 15 digs, but it wasn't enough to upend Snead State in Friday's opening match.
Northwest dropped the first set by 10 points, but rallied back to even the match at 1-1 after winning the second set. The Lady Rangers battled through the next two sets, but the Lady Parsons managed to claim both, winning the match.
Sophomore
Layla Dyer led the Lady Rangers with 37 assists in the loss, while
Kaya Coleman tallied three blocks.
Calhoun 3, Northwest 1
(Set scores: 19-25, 14-25, 25-15, 16-25)
Despite a strong outing from Coleman, Northwest dropped each of the first two sets in a 3-1 loss to Calhoun on Friday evening.
Northwest came up on the wrong end of a close first set, but the Lady Warhawks blasted the Lady Rangers in the second set, stretching the match lead to 2-0. Northwest refused to quit though, battling back for a 25-15 third-set victory, pulling within 2-1. However, Calhoun responded with a 25-16 fourth-set clincher.
Coleman led the Lady Rangers in both kills and blocks, finishing with 14 and four apiece. Much like the opening match, Dyer once again compiled 37 assists, while
Ally Grimes posted a team-high 11 digs.
Calhoun was led by Jakaya Smith's 11 kills and Amber Holshouser's 17 blocks. Lucy Means also finished with 10 digs, while Holshouser led the team with 20 assists.
Northwest 3, Lawson State 1
(Set scores: 25-13, 17-25, 25-20, 25-17)
Though Lawson State managed to capture the second set of Saturday afternoon's match, Northwest used some added momentum to ride through the third and fourth sets, earning a 3-1 decision.
Northwest cruised through the opening set, taking a 25-13 victory, before the Lady Cougars issued their response in the second set. The Lady Rangers remained ahead of Lawson State through the third set and pulled away a little further in the fourth.
Smith once again led Northwest in kills (14), while Dyer posted 31 assists. Grimes totaled a team-best 12 digs, while sophomore
Anna Lott was credited with four blocks.
Lurleen B. Wallace 3, Northwest 2
(Set scores: 25-27, 25-23, 27-25, 15-25, 14-16)
Perhaps the most intense battle of the weekend came late Saturday afternoon, when Northwest and Lurleen B. Wallace battled through a five-set thriller, which ended in a close loss for the Lady Rangers.
Northwest nearly captured the opening set, falling 27-25, before narrowly defeating the Lady Saints in the second set and again in the third. Trailing the match 2-1, Lurleen B. Wallace stormed back to take a 25-15 decision in the fourth set, and the Lady Rangers came up just short in the fifth and final set, 16-14.
Smith led Northwest with 14 kills, along with 36 assists from Dyer. Defensively, Grimes totaled 22 digs and Coleman finished with five blocks.
Wallace State-Hanceville 3, Northwest 1
(Set scores: 23-25, 14-25, 29-27, 22-25)
Three of the four sets in Sunday morning's battle with Wallace State-Hanceville were neck and neck, but a 25-14 loss in the second set made the ultimate difference for Northwest in a 3-1 defeat.
Wallace State-Hanceville edged the Lady Rangers, 25-23, in the opening set and the Lady Lions pounced with a dominant second set. Trailing 2-0, Northwest once again refused to go quietly, earning a 29-27 decision in a long third set, only to come up just short in the fourth and final set.
Dyer led Northwest in both assists (38) and digs (14), while Smith compiled 12 kills. Lott was also credited with a team-high five blocks.
Kailey Dickerson led Wallace State-Hanceville with 19 kills, while Abby McDonald totaled 29 digs. Ali Price led the Lady Lions with 48 assists and Kaylee Roman added a pair of blocks.
Northwest 3, Bevill State 0
(Set scores:Â 25-13. 25-14, 25-19)
After battling through a tough slate of matches, Northwest capped off the weekend with a shutout victory of Bevill State on Sunday afternoon.
Northwest easily captured the initial two sets and despite being challenged by Bevill State in the third set, the Lady Rangers managed to take a 25-19 decision, earning their third shutout win of the season.
Rachel Stegall posted eight kills to lead Northwest, while Dyer accounted for 24 assists and 12 digs. Coleman also earned four blocks in the winning effort.
