LAWTON, Okla. -- Northeastern State earned its first victory as an NCAA member Saturday night, sweeping Cameron 25-22, 26-24, 25-18 at Aggie Gymnasium.
The victory was also the RiverHawks' first sweep of the season and the first collegiate win at a four-year school for head coach
Maria Jacobus.
Poliana Lazarini led the RiverHawks (1-7) with 13 kills and added 18 digs and two service aces.
Ella Ramsey finished with 11 kills, while
Avery Dempsey contributed three kills, five assists and an ace.
Sydney Dunkleberger directed the offense with 19 assists and added 10 digs and two aces.
Tiyana Bhatte had seven assists and four digs.
The RiverHawks held off Cameron in a tightly contested opening set. Northeastern State trailed 21-20 before scoring five of the final six points, capped by a Lazarini kill, to take the set 25-22.
The second set was another back-and-forth battle. The RiverHawks led 23-21 before Cameron tied the score at 24. Northeastern State answered with consecutive kills from Lazarini and Ramsey to take the set 26-24 and move within one set of the sweep.
Northeastern State controlled the third set from the start, opening a 5-1 lead. Cameron pulled even at 6-6, but the RiverHawks gradually pulled away. Northeastern State used a 7-0 run to turn an 11-10 deficit into an 18-11 advantage and went on to close out the sweep 25-18.
The RiverHawks finished with 36 kills on 130 attacks and hit .069 for the match. Cameron had 27 kills and hit .032.
Northeastern State returns to action Thursday evening against Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
