Women's Volleyball | 10/8/2014 2:25:00 PM
FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Newman volleyball team travels to two Heartland Conference foes this week. The Lady Jets play at Arkansas-Fort Smith tomorrow (Oct. 9) and then go to Dallas Baptist on Saturday (Oct. 11).
Tomorrow's match starts at 7 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center in Fort Smith, Ark. and Saturday's match starts at noon at the Burg Center in Dallas, Texas. Live stats and video ($) should be available for both contests.
NU returns to conference action after two matches against Lone Star Conference opponents. The Lady Jets lost close matches on Oct. 4 to Angelo State (3-1), and Tarleton State (3-2), which NU took to five sets. NU is currently 6-9 on the season and 3-5 in the Heartland Conference.
The Lions of UAFS are 14-3 overall and 8-0 in the Heartland Conference. They are on a five-match winning streak. NU played the Lions on Sept. 9 and lost, 3-0, in Wichita. The Lions are led by reigning conference player of the year, Michelle Walker, who averages 3.9 kills per set and hits .263. Jessica Anderson and Katarina Krstonosic also average 3.0 kills per set. Bailey Katzfey is the team's main setter with 11.36 assists per set, and defensively Emily Tripp averages 6.45 digs.
DBU sits at 6-8 and 4-4 on the season. NU started the season with a 3-1 win over the Patriots on Sept. 4 in Wichita. DBU has won two straight conference matches and are coming off a loss to Tarleton State, 3-1. The Patriots play Oklahoma Panhandle State on Thursday (Oct. 9) before the match on Saturday.
For the Patriots of DBU, Tiara Gipson averages 3.69 kills per set to pace its offense. Krystal Wunderlich adds 3.04 kills per set. Setter Kaycie Bird totals 10.83 assists per set, and Tadam Mergener digs up 6.33 balls per set to lead the defense.
NU offense is currently led by
Ashley Gonzalez with 3.07 kills per set.
Alexis Roecker has been playing strong lately with 2.17 kills per set. She has led NU in kills in each of the last three matches. Freshman
Anna Burton averages 4.35 digs a set for the defense.
