GOODWELL, Okla. – The Newman volleyball got its first taste of Heartland Conference action this evening against Oklahoma Panhandle State, coming away with a 3-0 sweep.
 
KEY SEQUENCE
 
The (12-4, 1-0 Heartland Conference) only trailed a total of three times throughout the entire match against the Aggies (1-10, 0-1 Heartland Conference). Big runs helped the Jets win Set 2 and 3. Newman was tied 7-7 in Set 2 but went on a 13-2 run to make it 20-9 to help secure a 25-18 set victory. The Jets were leading 11-10 about halfway through Set 3 but had a 7-0 run to extend their lead out to 18-10, which helped lead to a 25-17 set and match victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Set 1
 
-The Aggies would have their only lead of Set 1 early on at 2-1, an ace from Kaci Copeland would put the Jets out in front at 3-2 and Newman would stay out in front throughout the set.
-Oklahoma Panhandle wouldn't back down though, making things interesting late by tying the score at 16-16, back-to-back kills by Hailey Braddy and an ace from Brook Conley put the score at 19-16 in favor of the Jets.
-The Jets would get the Set 1 victory by way of back-to-back points from Emily Harvey, the first one a kill and the second one a block to end the set 25-19.
 
Set 2
 
-The Jets jumped out front early at 2-0, but the Aggies would battle back to get their only lead of Set 2 at 4-3 but push it out to 5-3 early.
-Newman would rally to score four straight points to take a 7-5 lead but Oklahoma Panhandle would answer right back with back-to-back points to tie things up 7-7.
-The Jets would go on their 13-2 run to put the score at 20-9 over late in the set, with help from two OPSU errors, four Braddy kills, two aces from Jarin Braithwait, one ace from Kayla Turner, one kill apiece from Turner, Braithwait and Harvey and a block from Yemima Buana and Brook Conley during that run.
-Newman would hold on to win Set 2 25-18, with Harvey getting the set winning kill.
 
Set 3
 
-Both teams would battle throughout the early part of the set, with the Jets holding a slim 11-10 lead about halfway through, but the Jets would go on a 7-0 run to push their out to 18-10.
-Four errors from OPSU, two aces from Conley and a kill from Buana made that Newman run.
-Braithwait would get the set and match winning kill at 25-17 to secure the first Heartland Conference victory of the season for the Jets.
 
LEADERS
Newman
Kills: Turner, 11. Assists: Conley, 33. Aces: Conley, 5. Blocks: Buana, 2. Digs: Conley, 8.
 
Oklahoma Panhandle State
Kills: Kayln Moore, 6. Assists: Julia Ibarra, 21. Aces: Kendra Butler, 2. Blocks: Rylee Abert, 3. Digs: Moore, 5.
 
NOTES
 
-The Jets still hold a perfect 17-0 record against Oklahoma Panhandle State since joining the Heartland Conference.
-Conley had a season-high five aces tonight, along with reaching 30-plus assists in a match for the ninth time this season.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
Newman heads to Lubbock Christian to finish up its first week of Heartland Conference play Saturday at noon.