FORT SMITH, Ark. — Handing the Heartland Conference leader one of its toughest matches of the league season, the Newman women's volleyball team fell 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-20) to Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday evening.

KEY SEQUENCE

The Jets (15-7, 4-3 Heartland) charged back late in the second set as they were looking to tie things up against the Lions (13-5, 7-0 Heartland). They drew even with the hosts at 23-23 after climbing back from a nine-point deficit, but UAFS was able to net the final two points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set 1

-Newman took an early lead thanks to an Aliya Higginbotham kill and a block from Kayla Turner and Hailey Braddy, the first of a number of leads the Jets would hold throughout a competitive set.

-Kills from Jarin Braithwait pushed a Newman lead to 7-5 and broke a tie to make it 8-7, while Alexis Roecker's kill pushed the Jets out to a 9-8 advantage.

-An Emily Harvey kill handed the guests an 11-10 lead, but despite sticking with the Lions, thit was the last edge the Jets would have in the opening set. Newman came back to make it 19-18 late, but UAFS closed strong to take the early lead in the match.

Set 2

-The Lions charged out to a lead quickly in the second, going up 7-1, but kills by Harvey, Braddy, Braithwait and Turner quickly helped make it a more comfortable 9-6.

-Newman kept it close for a stretch from there, pulling it back to within three points multiple times before the Lions went on a run to go up 22-13.

-The Jets would not go quietly though, as Braithwait started things off with a kill and Turner added an ace after two Lion errors to make it 22-17. Braddy, Braithwait and Roecker put up kills to keep the momentum going, and two more UAFS errors drew things even at 23-23 before the hosts pulled out the win.

Set 3

-Newman kept things even early in the third set, with Braddy tying things with a kill and Yemima Buana and Turner teaming up for a block, but the Lions were able to gain some separation.

-The UAFS lead extended to 17-7 at its widest, but once again, the Jets came back with a fury. Harvey had a kill and teamed with Buana for a block to key a three-point run, and Kayla Turner hit a hot streak with three kills during a five-point spurt that brought things to 18-15.

-Two Lion errors made it 19-17, which is the closest the Jets would get late before UAFS closed out the victory.

LEADERS

Newman

Kills: Braddy 10. Assists: Brook Conley 16. Blocks: Buana, Turner 2. Aces: Four with 1. Digs: Turner 10.

Arkansas-Fort Smith

Kills: Kennedi Coleman, Merrisa Murphy 11. Assists: Erin Black 30. Blocks: Payton Hamilton 4. Aces: Three with 1. Digs: Emily Tripp 23.

NOTES

-Turner nearly reached a triple-double, adding nine kills to her 10 assists and 10 digs.

-The Lions have yet to lose a set in conference play this season.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Jets have the rest of the weekend off, and finish out their nonconference slate at Emporia State Tuesday evening.