The Newman volleyball team returns to Heartland Conference action this weekend with two matches in Texas. The Lady Jets take on St. Edward's tonight (Sept. 26) at 7 p.m. in Austin, Texas and go to McMurry on Saturday (Sept. 28) for a noon match in Abilene, Texas.
 
NU matched last season's win total of four with a quick three-set win (25-16, 25-13, 25-10) against Barclay on Tuesday (Sept. 24) at Fugate Gymnasium. NU hit a season-high .397 in the match, including .452 in the third set. The Lady Jets are currently 4-5 and 1-3 in the Heartland Conference.
 
Freshman Jarin Braithwait was named Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week on Monday (Sept. 23). The middle hitter from Leawood, Kan. totaled a season-high and team-high 21 kills in a five-set win against UTPB. She hit .386 in the match, which is the second-best hitting percentage this season for the Lady Jets (minimum 12 kills. She also had seven digs, two block solos and two block assists in the match. She is the second Lady Jet to earn Heartland Conference weekly honors as setter Alexus Litts was named Setter of the Week on Sept. 9.
 
St. Edward's is 3-8 and 1-2 in the Heartland Conference. The Hilltoppers defeated Texas A&M International, 3-1, to start conference, but are on a two-match losing streak. SEU fell to St. Mary's (3-1) and McMurry (3-1) in their last two contests. Mary Koehler leads the Hilltoppers with 102 kills and 2.55 kills per set. She is hitting .118. Setting her up are Loren Kelly and Jaclyn Billie. Kelly has 178 assists at 4.81 per set, and Billie has 171 assists for a 4.50 assists per set average. Kelly Jimenez totals 153 digs (3.64 digs per set), and Ashley Rappaport averages 5.17 digs per set (150 total).
 
McMurry is 3-0 in the conference, but only 5-7 overall. In Heartland Conference action, the War Hawks have wins over St. Mary's (3-0), Texas A&M International (3-1) and St. Edward's (3-1). McMurry is very balanced on offense with six War Hawks averaging more than 1.6 kills per set. Kelsey Harkins leads them with 79 kills and 1.88 kills per set. Peyton Evans averages a team-high 5.41 assists per set. On defense, Ayssa Garcia leads McMurry with 5.57 digs per set.
 
After this weekend, the Lady Jets return home for a four-match home stretch.