ODESSA, Texas - The Newman volleyball team dropped just its second Heartland Conference match of the season in a 3-1 decision to Texas-Permian Basin Thursday evening at the Falcon Dome in Odessa, Texas. The Jets were out-blocked 16-3 in the loss.

Both teams fell victim to sloppy play early in Thursday's match, committing nine attack errors a piece, but in the end, Texas-Permian Basin (8-13, 4-3 Heartland) posted 14 kills, while Newman (8-11, 3-2 Heartland) finished with 12 kills in a 27-25 opening-set loss.

The Jets rallied back in a close second set, posting 17 kills on 39 attack attempts while holding off the Falcons for a 25-23 win to tie the match at 1-1.

Thursday's third set proved to be the deciding set in the match, and provided its fair share of drama. The Jets spotted the Falcons an early 8-1 lead in the set, and appeared to be out of contention, but Newman mounted a comeback that found the set tied at 22-22, but UTPB ended the set on a 3-1 spurt to take the 25-23 win.

The third-set loss was enough to take the wind out of the Newman sails, as the Jets dropped a 25-15 decision in the decisive fourth set, and dropped the match 3-1.

Chelsey Potter led the way offensively for the Jets. The senior finished with 16 kills, and hit .200 in the match, while adding 11 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. Freshman Lyndsey Martini finished with 48 assists as Newman's leading setter, while Kristen White dug a team-high 20 balls in the loss.

Alex Genung led the UTPB offense with 17 kills.

With the loss, the Jets fall to 8-11 on the season, and 3-2 in Heartland Conference play. They will return to action Saturday when they take on Oklahoma Panhandle State in a 1 p.m. contest at Oscar Williams Fieldhouse in Goodwell, Okla.