NMJC VB Slips at Odessa

The No. 3 T-Birds dropped their second straight contest in four sets Saturday afternoon to Odessa College (25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22). 

The Thunderbirds were outplayed in the first set over in Odessa falling 25-20. NMJC held onto the lead 14-12 at the midway point of set two after a Gaby Arias ace. NMJC expanded their lead to set point 24-20. Odessa was able to get within one point, 24-23, but a tip kill by Iva Popovic ended the second set in favor of the Thunderbirds, 25-23.

The third set was a stalemate halfway through, 12-12. Odessa went on a 7-1 run to open up a six-point lead, 19-13. NMJC pulled within three points, 20-17, following two straight kills by Popovic. The Wranglers were too stout and won the fourth set by three, 25-22. 

The T-Birds went back-and-forth with Odessa in set four. Both teams were knotted up at 16 apiece. NMJC took the lead 20-19 but promptly relinquished it to make the score 21-20 in favor of the Wranglers. The T-Birds tied it back up at 21-21 only for Odessa to go on a 4-1 run to win set four and the match, 25-22. 

Iva Popovic finished with a season-high in digs and kills with 24 and 19 respectively. The sophomore outside hitter also added five blocks and was one dig short of a career-high.

Setter Sude Omerickoglu recorded 24 assists, 10 digs, and three aces. Saturday's match was the second time this season Omerickoglu has posted a double-double. Taina de Lima Nunes registered 21 assists in the four-set loss. Libero Addison Carillo added 11 digs.

Outside hitter Gaby Arias finished the afternoon with 11 kills and four digs. Right side Olivia Swipiarski recorded eight kills and Polianna Hernandez registered seven kills. 

The No. 3 ranked T-Birds 17-3 (2-2) face another tough road contest against Midland College Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. CDT.