FOR SMITH, Ark. – The Newman volleyball team lost to the defending Heartland Conference champion UA Fort Smith Lions in a close five-set match on Thursday (Sept. 10). With the conference opening loss, the Jets dropped to 2-4 and 0-1 in the Heartland Conference. UAFS moved to 2-3 and 1-0 in the conference.
 
NU built a 2-1 advantage with a dominating wins in sets two and three, but the host Lions came back for the wins in set four, 25-18, and the final set, 15-13. UAFS won set one, 25-19.
 
Kayla Turner and Emily Harvey led the Jets with 16 kills each. Harvey hit .317. Ashley Gonzalez added 14 kills and hit .364. Turner totaled a double-double of 16 kills and 17 digs. Alexus Litts totaled a match-high 41 assists, and Raygen Lee added 13 assists. Sophomore libero Anna Burton tallied a match-high 33 digs. Gaylynn Jones added 21 digs and nine kills.
 
As a team, the Jets hit .171 to outhit the home team. UAFS hit .160. NU totaled 60 kills and 28 errors on 187 attempts. UAFS had 49 kills and 21 errors on 175 attempts.  
 
UAFS's Kennedi Coleman finished with a match-high 19 kills. Emily Tripp had 32 digs to lead the Lions.
 
The Jets are in action tomorrow (Sept. 11) at 1 p.m. against Ouachita Baptist and again at 5 p.m. against Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Ark.