The No. 23 Northwest Mississippi Community College volleyball team extended its winning streak to 24 matches with a sweep of East Central Community College on Wednesday night. The Rangers won in straight sets, 25-9, 25-14, 25-14, during their final regular-season tournament.
After the match, sophomore Ariana Woods credited her teammates for her record-breaking performance. Woods finished with 11 kills, giving her a career total of 541 — surpassing the previous record of 533 set in 2023 by Jacia Hayes.
Woods said her success is a team effort. “I owe it to all my teammates, our setters and passers. I wouldn’t have any of the stats I do without them. As someone who really loves the sport and wants to be a leader, I’m glad I can represent that in both the stats and off the court,” she said.
The Rangers started strong, opening with a 6-0 run led by Reese McIntosh. They finished the first set hitting .385 with 11 kills and three blocks. Northwest continued to dominate in the second set, hitting over .500 with 16 kills and taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set, East Central mounted a brief rally, but Northwest responded with a six-point run to regain control. The team closed out the set and match with a 25-14 win, marking their 22nd sweep of the season. The final set saw many substitutions as younger players gained valuable court experience.
Woods led the team offensively with 15 points, including 11 kills and six blocks. Sofia Gonzalez contributed eight kills with a .583 hitting percentage. The team finished with a .403 hitting percentage, totaling 37 kills and only six errors. Chloe Rodriguez and Dallas White each dished out 16 assists, and the team recorded six aces in the match.
Looking ahead, the Rangers will compete in the Alabama Gulf Coast Classic this weekend, facing No. 18 Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, Enterprise State, Bishop State, and Snead State. Woods emphasized the importance of the tournament. “It’s a big weekend for us. It’s a chance to see where we are weak. Playoffs are all that matter at the end of the day,” she said.
Fans can follow the team for updates on nwccrangers.com and social media platforms.
