WICHITA – The Newman volleyball team blanked Texas-Permian Basin in a 3-0 win on Thursday (Oct. 22) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets moved to 18-6 on the season and 8-2 in the Heartland Conference.
In the first set, NU pulled out to an early 5-1 lead en route to a 25-20 victory. The Jets finished with a .279 hitting percentage in the first set with 15 kills and only three errors. UTPB hit .136 with 13 kills and seven errors.
After slow start to the first set, the Jets scored seven of eight points to gain a 14-6 advantage, forcing the Falcons to take a timeout. NU went on to win set two by the score of 25-16. The Jets had their best hitting percentage of the night at .314 in the second set with a match-high 17 kills on 35 attempts. The Falcons struggled to their worst hitting percentage at .030 with seven kills and six errors.
The third set was close to start. With the Falcons up 17-16, the Jets went on a spurt of 6-1 to take a 22-18 advantage. After a timeout from UTPB, they went on a 5-1 run to knot the score at 23-23. The Jets were forced to take a timeout after back-to-back aces from the Falcons. With the score at 23-23,
Ashley Gonzalez gave NU match point with a kill.
Gaylynn Jones put the match away with a kill for the 25-23 final in the third set.
In the third set, NU hit .231 with 15 kills and six errors on 39 attempts. UTPB finished at .125 with 11 kills and six errors.
For the match, NU hit .274 with 47 kills and 15 errors on 117 attempts. The Falcons totaled a .103 hitting percentage with 31 kills and 19 errors on 117 attempts.
Gonzalez, a senior middle hitter, tallied a match-high .632 hitting percentage with 13 kills on only 19 attempts. She added one block solo and two digs. Jones missed a double-double by one kill as she finished with nine kills and 13 digs. Senior setter
Alexus Litts totaled a double-double of 38 assists and 13 digs. She added three kills on four attempts and one block assist. Sophomore
Anna Burton finished with a match-high 14 digs.
The Jets play home twice on Saturday (Oct. 24). NU starts with a conference match against Lubbock Christian at 11 a.m. After the first match, the Jets play Tarleton State at 4 p.m. Live stats and video will be available for both matches.
