WICHITA, Kan. – The Newman volleyball team took on Arkansas-Fort Smith for Senior Night inside Fugate Gymnasium and found themselves in a very competitive five-set thriller but came up a little short, falling 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 15-25, 27-25, 16-14).
 
KEY SEQUENCE
 
The Jets (20-10, 9-5 Heartland) had match point at 14-12 in Set 5 against the Lions (22-5, 14-0 Heartland) but UAFS would steal the match away from Newman by scoring the final four points of the match to close out the regular season for both teams.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Set 1
 
-Newman scored the first point of the set with a kill from Aliya Higginbotham. UAFS would answer with a five-point run to take an early 5-1 lead though. The Jets would battle back with back-to-back kills from Emily Harvey and back-to-back aces from Anna Burton to tie things up at 5-5.
 
-The Jets and Lions would continuously tie the score up throughout the middle of the set with tie scores at 6-6, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, and 13-13. UAFS would go out in front at 18-14 but Newman would go on a five-point run to retake the lead. A kill from Kayla Turner and four Lion errors made that Jet run.
 
-Newman would trail 23-21 late in Set 1 but with back-to-back kills from Hailey Braddy the Jets were able to tie the score up but UAFS would escape the set with a competitive 25-23 win.  
 
-There was 11 tie scores and seven lead changes throughout Set 1.
 
Set 2
 
-UAFS would jump out to an early 4-0 to start Set 2. Newman would tie the score up for the first time at 8-8 with a kill from Alexis Roecker.
 
-The Jets would breakthrough and get their first lead of the set at 13-12 with a kill from Yemima Buana. Newman would then get its biggest lead of Set 2 at 22-16 with another big kill coming from Roecker.
 
-Harvey would close out Set 2 with a kill to capture a 25-21 victory over the Lions, which was UAFS's fourth set loss up to this point in conference play this season.
 
-Harvey would lead all players with five kills in Set 2.
 
Set 3
 
-The Jets would get out to an early 3-0 start by way of back-to-back kills from Higginbotham and a Jarin Braithwait ace.
 
-Newman would be in control throughout all of Set 3 by getting out to double digit leads multiple times and having its biggest lead at 21-9 when Turner delivered a kill.
 
-The Jets would end Set 3 by scoring the final two points of the set with a Braddy and Harvey kill to put the final score at 25-15.
 
-Newman was fire engine red on the offensive end, hitting .389 as a team during Set 3.
 
Set 4
 
-The Jets got out to an early 8-2 advantage over the Lions in Set 4 but the UAFS would climb back into the set to tie the score at 14-14 midway through the set.
 
-Both teams would battle throughout the middle of the set but Newman would get out to a 21-17 lead late in Set 4 with a kill from Braddy.
 
-Things would get heated late in Set 4 as both teams would try to get an advantage late in the set and tie the score up at 23-23, 24-24 and 25-25. UAFS would hang on to win a thrilling Set 4 27-25.
 
Set 5
 
-UAFS would jump out to a 5-2 lead but the Jets would rally and score the next six out of eight points to take an 8-7 lead. During that stretch Turner scored four of the six Newman points with two kills and two aces.
 
-The Lions would tie the score up at 9-9 but Newman would get some help from UAFS's back-to-back errors and take an 11-9 lead late in the final set.
 
-Once again UAFS would tie the score up but this time it was at 12-12, the Jets however would respond with two kills in a row, the first one from Harvey and the second one from Braithwait to take a 14-12 lead.
 
-The Lions would walk away with the set and match win by scoring the last four points of Set 5 to win 16-14.
 
LEADERS
 
Newman
Kills: Harvey, 19. Assists: Brook Conley, 48. Aces: Turner, Braithwait, Burton, 2. Blocks: Braithwait, 4. Digs: Burton, 30.
 
UAFS
Kills: Kennedi Coleman, 14. Assists: Erin Black, 27. Aces: Marika Stiles, 1. Blocks: Payton Hamilton, 6. Digs: Emily Tripp, 46.
 
NOTES
 
-The Jets who locked up a seed in the conference postseason tournament will now have to wait until this Saturday for the St. Edward's match to see what seed they'll be heading into next weekend.
 
-Turner recorded her third triple-double for the season tallying 17 kills, 13 assists and 21 digs.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
The Jets will play in the Heartland Conference semifinal round on Nov. 18 in Fort Smith, Arkansas against an opponent to be determined.