FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University volleyball team (14-16, 4-4 RRAC) clinched a spot in the conference tournament with a 3-1 (28-26, 21-25, 25-14, 25-16) win over University of the Southwest (4-22, 3-5 RRAC) at the Sid Richardson Center on Friday night. 

The Texas Wesleyan volleyball program honored Senior Marissa Rangel, a 5-4 libero transfer from Pasadena City College. Rangel played in all 53 matches in her two-year career at Wesleyan. Last year she was named named 2nd team All-Conference, while ranking third in the league with 456 digs. She notched a career high 40 digs in a RRAC tournament match against SAGU, and this season she ranks sixth in the league with 399 digs. She has reached double figures in digs 22 times and posted a season high 32 in a win over St. Thomas.

The Lady Rams and Mustangs played even through most of the first set, until Southwest took a slim three point lead, forcing a Wesleyan timeout. The Lady tied the game at 17 apiece.  Again, the Mustangs sprinted out to a 22-18 lead, but Wesleyan was able to catch up and tie the set at 22-22.  Southwest found themselves with game point 24-22 and couldn’t finish off the Rams due to problems at the service line, but Wesleyan had problems of their own with attacking errors. Texas Wesleyan finally came out on top, edging the Mustangs in the first set marred by errors, 28-26. 

It was much of the same in the second set as the two teams volleyed for the lead, each finding momentum after their respective timeouts. The Lady Rams still plagued by attacking errors, managed to stay in the game, but eventually dropped the second set 25-21.

In an important third set the Lady Rams came out with intensity and were able to capitalize on the Lady Mustangs errors while keeping their own to a minimum. Wesleyan rallied with a 7-0 run to make it 16-9, and then went on a 6-0 run to bring the score to 22-12. The Rams took the third set 25-14. 

Wesleyan kept the momentum and sailed in the fourth set, keeping the Lady Mustangs on their heels. The Lady Rams went on an 8-2 run late to prance out to a 21-9 lead. Southwest showed some fight but were unable to make any comebacks dropping the set 25-16.

Lynsay Buell had some clutch kills and led the Rams with 14 kills. Angelica Arroyo posted a very solid 46 assists in the win. Elena Vannaman led all players with 18 digs. Rangel had one kill, three assists, two aces, and 16 digs and the honored senior.  

“We didn’t play well the first two sets,” said head coach Christy Clawson. “We made too many errors in the first two(sets), but we came back and played our game in the last two sets, and it showed on the score. We need to play good volleyball from the first serve and not take so long to get in the game, hopefully we can do that tomorrow against Bacone and let that carry in the conference tournament.” When asked about her senior honored today she gave this reply, “Mari (Rangel) is an amazing kid, she comes from good stock, and she is the only transfer student to make this big of an impact for me. She is a leader on and off the court and whoever replaces her next year will have some big shoes to fill.”  

The Lady Rams will honor their biggest fans and supports on Parents’ Day tomorrow when they take on Bacone College at 1:00 p.m. at the Sid Richardson Center.