Tweet #theGAC SHAWNEE, Oklahoma - Northwestern Oklahoma State hit the road for the Great American Conference Volleyball Championships and opened up in the quarterfinals against second-ranked Oklahoma Baptist. Northwestern overcame the higher seed and pulled off the upset of the Bison, 3-1, to become the first No. 7 seed team to upset the No. 2 seed at the GAC Championships. Addison Wimmer led in kills with 25, breaking the record for most kills in a four-set GAC Championship match. Cameron Lobb collected 51 assists and Andrea Coady accumulated 27 digs. Tarra Parks, Courtney Russell, and Wimmer all picked up double doubles with their kills and digs.

In the opening set, the Bison began the match with three kills. Wimmer started things for the Rangers with her first kill as the Rangers trailed 3-1. Andrea Coady followed with a service ace to bring the Rangers back within one. Oklahoma Baptist answered back with four of the five next points. With the Rangers trailing 15-10, the teams traded 3-0 runs before the Rangers scored five of the next six points to bring them back within two, 19-17. Oklahoma Baptist closed out the first set on a 6-1 run.

Northwestern started the second set strong with kills from Russell and Wimmer to take an early 2-0 lead. When Oklahoma Baptist held a 9-6 lead, Northwestern battled by scoring five of the next six points. The Bison answered with three straight point to take a 14-11 lead. The teams traded runs as the Bison maintained a 20-17 lead. Kills by WImmer and Parks followed by a service ace by Lobb drew the Rangers even at 20-20. Northwestern regained the lead in the set at 22-21 following a kill by Parks. Oklahoma Baptist tied the set at 22-22, but Russell and Parks pushed it to set point before a block by Burns and Jones gave the Rangers a 25-22 win.

The Rangers' second-set momentum carried into the third set, as the they won the first three points of the season. A  Bison put them ahead, 5-4. Northwestern responded with a 4-0 run. Oklahoma Baptist brought it back within one, 8-7, but the Rangers extended their lead to 12-7. Northwestern maintained the lead as the Bison closed within one at 15-14. Following a Northwestern timeout, the Rangers regained the momentum with four straight points . The Bison climbed back and tied the set at 24-24. A kill by Carmae Jones followed by a kill by Wimmer to give the Rangers a 28-26 set win.

Early in the fourth set, Northwestern raced out to a 8-2 lead as Parks and Wimmer each had two kills in the run. The Bison fought back by within three, 12-9. Wimmer countered with back to back kills. Burns and Russell fired off a kill each to further Northwestern's lead 18-14. Jones added a solo block and additional kill for the Rangers. Wimmer and Russell once again contributed a kill each. Andrea Coady hustled to send over a free ball kill to clinch the first ever seven seed upset of the two seed in GAC Tournament history 25-22.

Northwestern will play against No. 3 Southwestern Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. on Friday in the day's first semifinal match. The Rangers seek to end a seven-match losing streak to the rival Bulldogs.