For the first time in two years, the Odessa College volleyball team wasn’t able to get a win in straight sets against Midland College.
No worries. The Lady Wranglers still managed to continue their winning streak against their rivals to the east.
No. 10-ranked Odessa College recorded its fifth-straight victory against Midland College with a 3-2 win Wednesday at the Chaparral Center.
Odessa College won by scores of 22-25, 25-15, 25-20, 22-25, 15-5.
“I feel like the girls started off a little slow,” Odessa College head coach Dayna Acevedo-Rios said. “We knew that coming into this arena, that the air feels different and the ball flows different. It was a little bit of an adjustment. We had to work in order to win but in the end, we stuck to our game plan and got that fifth set.”
With the win, the Lady Wranglers improved to 18-6 overall, 6-1 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference play.
Midland College fell to 5-12, 2-5.
Wednesday’s game wrapped-up the first half of WJCAC play for both teams.
It was also the first time since Oct. 5, 2022 that Odessa College needed more than three sets to defeat Midland College.
The last time the Lady Wranglers lost to the Lady Chaps was in a 3-0 contest back on Oct. 30, 2021.
“It’s pretty good to get a win against Midland College,” Acevedo-Rios said. “For both of our schools, we feel like this is the game of the year. Now we just need to get ready for the next round of conference play.”
Both teams battled back-and-forth in the first set.
It wasn’t long before Midland College had a 19-16 lead.
A block by the Lady Wranglers brought them to a two-point deficit on the next play.
It was 21-20, Midland College soon after as neither team refused to concede.
A kill by Hanna Nemeth tied things up at 21-21 soon after.
However, the Lady Chaps used a 2-0 run to get closer to taking the first set.
An error by the Lady Wranglers then put them on the brink of dropping the first set.
However, an error on the following play by the Lady Chaps then made it 24-22.
Midland College managed to close out to take the first set 25-22.
Odessa College began the second set on a fast note, taking a 4-1 lead.
It was soon 10-3 as the Lady Wranglers didn’t let up on the gas pedal.
After a timeout, a kill by Amyah Collins gave the Lady Wranglers a 13-5 lead.
Odessa College wouldn’t let up and soon had a 22-13 advantage.
The Lady Wranglers used a 3-2 run to close out the set as a kill by Jade Cuya clinched the set for the visitors and tie the game at 1-1.
Odessa College began the third set on a 5-3 run.
A kill by Midland College’s Iasmin Araujo tied the game up at 7-7.
Odessa College responded with a kill by Lauren Dale on the following play.
However, the Lady Chaps went on a 4-2 run to take an 11-10 lead.
A kill by Ipek Kusoglu made it 14-12 for Midland College and the Lady Wranglers called a timeout.
An error by the Lady Chaps put Odessa College ahead 15-14.
The Lady Wranglers soon after had a 17-15 lead.
Odessa College used a quick 3-1 run to build its lead.
A block by Odessa College’s Milica Peci made it 21-16.
The Lady Chaps cut their deficit to 22-19 but it wouldn’t be enough as Odessa College took the set.
Midland College began the fourth set on a 3-1 run.
The Lady Chaps continued their promising run, building their lead to 7-3 soon after.
Midland College wouldn’t give up and extended its lead to 16-10.
Odessa College went on a 6-2 run to decrease its deficit.
However, the Lady Chaps stayed in front.
An error by the Lady Wranglers made it 22-19 for Midland College.
Midland College kept up its run and forced a fifth set.
Odessa College began the game-deciding set on a 4-0 run.
Midland College would go on to call a timeout.
An error by the Lady Chaps gave the Lady Wranglers a 6-1 lead.
It wasn’t long before the visitors were sitting comfortably at a 9-2 advantage.
Another error by the Lady Chaps gave the Lady Wranglers a 13-5 lead.
Odessa College soon closed out the set to maintain its winning streak against Midland College.
“I think we were getting pretty frustrated because Midland College was playing pretty well,” Acevedo-Rios said. “I think it was a little frustrating for us at the beginning but in the end, we played pretty well.”
Odessa College will next face Western Texas College at 2 p.m. Saturday at the OC Sports Center to begin the second half of conference play.
Midland College will face Clarendon College at 2 p.m. Saturday on the road.
Both teams will play each other again at 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at the OC Sports Center to finish up the regular season.
