WICHITA, Kan. — After falling in a tight first set, the Newman volleyball team couldn't overcome the early deficit in a 3-0 loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith in Heartland Conference action Thursday night at Fugate Gymnasium.
KEY SEQUENCE
The Jets (9-13, 3-3 Heartland) have been known to bounce back from early holes this season, but with the hosts down 2-0 in the match, the Lions (17-5, 6-0 Heartland) rolled off five of the first six points of the third set to build momentum on their way to a 25-20, 25-17, 25-14 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Kills from Emily Harvey and Hailey Braddy, along with a block form Harvey and Crystal Powell, staked the Jets to a 3-1 lead early. The Lions tied things at 4-4, but Newman pushed back in front with another Braddy kill and a solo block from Reagen Roth. The hosts led up through 12-10, until UAFS scored four straight to go ahead 14-12, holding onto that narrow lead the rest of the set.
-The second set was tight early, with Braddy notching a kill to tie it at 2-2, and Yemima Buana picking up a solo stuff to make it 4-3, but the Lions put up a six-point burst to take a comfortable lead. Two straight kills from Harvey and a block out of Powell got things close with a 3-1 run late to make it 23-17, but UAFS picked up the 2-0 lead in the match.
-After building the early lead in the third, the Lions ran off five points to make it 10-3. Kayla Turner registered back-to-back kills to get it to 12-7, but a 5-1 run put the visitors in control, and a late 5-0 run closed out the set.
NOTES
-Braddy led the Jets with 13 kills. That mark was one off her season-high, but the 4.33 kills per set is her best number of the year. The junior also picked up 11 digs for her second double-double of the season.
-Roth continued her impressive run as the full-time setter, dishing out 27 assists without an error, and adding two big solo blocks at the net.
-At the midway point of the conference season, the Jets are in a three-way tie for third at 3-3 in league play, just a game behind second-place St. Mary's with six matches to go.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets take the weekend off before traveling to Lubbock Christian Thursday.
