HEAR FROM COACH BAREA
"It feels great to get that first win as a team, it's what we've been talking about since our first practice in January together," head coach Leigh Barea said. "It's kind of ironic to get the first win in five sets because in my very first practice we talked about five-set matches and our team's mentality in them. Tonight they showed that they wouldn't give up even after being down 5-1 early (in the fifth set)."
 
"I'm really excited about everything this weekend because we learned a lot about ourselves and we have a ton to get better at, yet we're already really coming together. It's a great first step as we really get into the 2018 season."
 
Game One, Bemidji State 3, Parkside 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was all Bemidji State in the opening match for the Rangers on Saturday, as the Beavers came out to win in straight sets while hitting .307 and winning the kills battle (44-32). Parkside kept it close in sets one and three, but they fell 25-23, 25-22 respectively.
 
WHO STUCK OUT
For the third straight game to open the season, Lexie Calloway led the Rangers in kills, finishing with 12 while Katie Adams had nine kills and led the team with 14 assists. Ann Leo led the team in digs (13) and added two aces.
 
Game Two, Parkside 3, Purdue Northwest 2
THE FIRST
What a way to end the first ever Parkside Hampton Inn Invitational, with the Rangers coming back from down 2-0 to win 3-2 in a five-set thriller that saw head coach Leigh Barea earn her first career coaching win at Parkside. It was also the Rangers first win of the 2018 season, as they head into next week with a 1-3 record.
 
THE COMEBACK
After the Rangers went down 2-0, the comeback was on. Parkside took set three 25-23 and followed that with a clutch 25-23 win in set four to push it to the fifth set. In the fifth set, PNW jumped out to a 5-1 lead to put the Rangers on the fence, but four straight Ranger points brought the Green & White back into it. After the teams went even, Parkside ripped off five straight points to take a 14-8 lead and won on a Rachel Hedman kill from Katie Adams.
 
STATWORTHY
While the Pride led in aces, the Rangers led in all other major categories including kills, blocks, assists and digs. Calloway led the way in kills for the fourth straight game, finishing with 17 while Adams add 16 and a team-high 33 assists. Freshman Alivia Marks led the team with six blocks while Elizabeth Mavis had four and Hedman has three.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Rangers head to Indianapolis, Ind., for a tournament featuring four games. They'll face Quincy and Upper Iowa on Friday, August 31 at 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively (central time). On Saturday, Parkside will square off with Harding at 9 a.m. and Wheeling Jesuit at 3 p.m. GLIAC play begins right after that, as the Rangers hit the road for five straight matches to open conference play.