Box Score ODESSA, Texas – The Newman volleyball team battled back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth set, but fell 15-13 in the final set to lose 3-2 to Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday (Oct. 26). The Lady Jets dropped to 11-10 and 5-8 in the Heartland Conference.
 
With the Lady Jets already up 6-5 in the fifth set, NU went on a 4-0 run to take a 10-5 advantage. The Falcons went on a run of their own, scoring six straight points to gain the lead at 11-10. A kill from UTPB's Melissa Lusk pushed the Falcons match point at 14-12. Shelby Zoglman kept NU in the match with a kill and a 14-13 score. Needing one point to stay in the match, NU's service error gave UTPB a 15-13 set five win and the match win, 3-2.
 
After dropping the first two sets by scores of 25-13 and 25-23, the Lady Jets responded to win in the next two sets. In a tight third set, NU went on a 4-0 run to go up 23-19. Jarin Braithwait, Jeana Farrugia and Ashley Gonzalez all had kills in the run. Back-to-back Alexus Litts kills put the set away at 25-21.
 
The Lady Jets continued to hold the momentum in the fourth set, pulling out to an 11-4 advantage with a 5-0 run and a 4-0 run to start the set. With the Lady Jets up 20-14, UTPB made their own run of 5-0 to close to within one at 20-19. A Braithwait kill lifted NU match point at 24-21, and after a UTPB kill, Gonzalez put away a kill for a 25-22 win.
 
Braithwait led the Lady Jets with 17 kills. Litts totaled a triple-double with 50 assists, 27 digs and 14 kills. Farruggia added 12 kills. Tori Alderson had a double-double of 22 digs and 10 assists.
 
NU returns home for two Heartland Conference matches this week. The Lady Jets host McMurry on Thursday (Oct. 31) at 7 p.m. and welcome St. Edward's on Saturday (Nov. 2) at 12 p.m.