WICHITA – The Newman volleyball team won a thrilling-five set match over Lubbock Christian on Thursday (Oct. 16) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Lady Jets came back from a 19-11 deficit in set four to force a fifth set and won the fifth set by a close 18-16 score. NU moved to 9-10 on the season and 5-6 in the Heartland Conference. LCU dropped to 11-3 and 8-2 in the Heartland Conference.
 
NU trailed 19-11 in the fourth set after a kill by LCU's Channing Castleberry. The Lady Jets cut the deficit to three at 20-17 with a 6-1 run with five points coming on kills from Alexis Roecker (two), Shelby Zoglman (two) and Ashley Gonzalez. After a LCU point made it 21-17, NU went on a 7-0 run to get set point at 24-21. Emily Harvey had three straight kills during the run. The Lady Chaps got back-to-back kills to close to within one at 24-23, but NU got the final point on an LCU attack error for the 25-23 set four win.
 
In the fifth set, NU pulled out to a 6-1 edge with another two kills from Harvey and one from Roecker. With the Lady Jets still in front, but only by an 11-8 score, LCU went ahead with a 6-1 run to lead 14-12, and they had match point. Three straight NU points gave the Lady Jets a 15-14 advantage and match point for the home team. The set tied twice at 15-15 and 16-16, but NU got another kill from Harvey for a 17-16 lead, and Gonzalez put the match away with a block solo for the 18-16 set five win and the 3-2 match win.
 
LCU held a 2-1 advantage after three sets. After trailing 19-17 in set one, NU ended the set with an 8-2 run to win 25-21. Jarin Braithwait, Gaylynn Jones, Gonzalez, Zoglman and Roecker all had kills during the run.
 
The Lady Chaps tied the match at 1-1 with a 29-27 win in set two. The Lady Jets started the set strong; gaining a 6-1 advantage, but LCU closed the margin to tie the set at 9-9. With the score still tied at 12-12, NU went on a 7-2 run to gain a 19-14 edge. The Lady Jets lead was 24-20, but LCU ended the set with a 9-3 run to win 29-27.
 
In the third set, LCU rolled to a 25-16 victory. The Lady Chaps started the set with a 9-1 run and cruised from there.
 
The duo of Alexis Roecker and Ashley Gonzalez combined for 41 kills. Roecker led the way with 21 kills, and Gonzalez added 20 kills. Lexi Kuharich totaled a double-double of 58 assists and 18 digs. Anna Burton tallied 32 digs.
 
Castleberry totaled a match-high 25 kills and .317 hitting percentage for LCU. Maddie Johnson added 16 kills and Amy Edwards had 14 kills. Erin Fisher had a match-high 63 assists, and Christa Daniel finished with a match-high 40 digs.
 
NU hit .298 in the fourth set as they came back for the 25-23 win. In the final set, the Lady Jets hit .267 with only two errors.
 
The Lady Jets are back in action on Saturday (Oct. 18) against Texas-Permian Basin at 12 p.m. at Fugate Gymnasium.