The No. 10-ranked Odessa College volleyball team managed to defeat Clarendon College in three sets but it didn’t come as easy as the Lady Wranglers were hoping.
The Lady Wranglers won by scores of 26-24, 25-16, 26-24 in the penultimate regular season game Wednesday at the OC Sports Center.
With the win, Odessa College improved to 23-7 overall, 11-2 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference while Clarendon College fell to 20-13, 4-9.
It was the second win of the season against the Lady Bulldogs as Odessa College won the last meeting in three sets back on Oct. 5 on the road.
“I think it was frustrating,” Odessa College head coach Dayana Acevedo-Rios said. “I think it was hard. The girls were trying to figure out how to play this game and wondering where they needed to go. Clarendon College started putting pressure on us. I feel like we needed to figure out who we were instead of just trying to play at their level so that was the struggle the entire game.”
Things were close throughout the first set as Odessa College only led 22-20.
A block by Clarendon College tied things up at 24-24.
A kill by Milica Peci gave the Lady Wranglers the first set, 26-24.
Clarendon College, however, didn’t let up in the second set, going on a 8-4 run to start things off.
However, the Lady Wranglers soon regained their footing, taking a 17-13 lead.
Odessa College used an 8-3 run to close out the set and take a 2-0 lead.
The Lady Wranglers began the third set on an 8-4 run.
However, the Lady Bulldogs never went away and soon only trailed 12-11.
The set remained close and the Lady Wranglers’ lead was only 16-15 soon after.
A serve error by the hosts soon made it another one-point game at 17-16.
Another Lady Wrangler error tied the set at 18-18.
The Lady Bulldogs took a 21-20 lead soon after.
A kill by Odessa College’s Faith Williams tied the set back up on the following play.
Lauren Lucas got a kill on the next play to put the Lady Wranglers back up.
Clarendon College answered back with a 3-0 run to take a 24-22 lead.
The Lady Wranglers then scored consecutive points to tie things up at 24-24.
Amyah Collins’ kill gave the Lady Wranglers the set at 26-24 and the 3-0 win.
“At the end, when it mattered, the girls decided they wanted to end it,” Acevedo-Rios said. “That’s what was frustrating because we could’ve done that earlier but nonetheless, it was a good game and we got the sweep.”
Clarendon College will next face Western Texas College to close out the regular season with a 2 p.m. game Saturday in Snyder.
Odessa College will finish the regular season against rivals Midland College at 2 p.m. Saturday at the OC Sports Center.
The Lady Wranglers survived in five sets in their last meeting against the Lady Chaps back on Oct. 9 at the Chaparral Center in Midland.
“I think every game is going to be tough, especially now that we’re at the end of the regular season,” Acevedo-Rios said. “We just have to go in and there’s going to be a lot of emotions since it’s going to be Sophomore Night. But it’s going to be fun. We get to play here one last time as a team and then go into regionals.”
