SAN ANTONIO — In a match that featured swings of momentum in both directions and close scores throughout, the Newman volleyball team fell 3-0 to St. Mary's Saturday afternoon in Heartland Conference action.
KEY SEQUENCE
The Jets (11-19, 4-7 Heartland), despite being down 2-0 in the match, were looking to mount a comeback in the third against the Rattlers (16-11, 10-2 Heartland). Newman shot in front 16-10, then withstood a response from the hosts enough to hold a 21-19 advantage after kills from Emily Harvey and Reagen Roth. St. Mary's turned it on late though, scoring the next five points and six of the final seven to seal the 27-25, 25-22, 25-22 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-St. Mary's built a solid lead early in the first, going up 10-4 before Kayla Turner put up back-to-back kills to help the Jets. Another Turner kill and two from Harvey keyed a 5-0 run that got it back to 14-12, and a three-point spurt tied things at 17-17. Anna Burton notched an ace to tie it once again at 21-all, and a three-point run including a block from Harvey and Crystal Powell gave Newman set point at 25-24, but the Rattlers scored the final three points.
-The hosts scored the first four points of the second, but Turner picked up an ace and a kill to help the Jets score the next four. Two straight kills out of Hailey Braddy pushed Newman ahead 8-7, and the Jets tied it at 10-10. They would get within a point on six different occasions, but they couldn't move in front. Harvey and Braddy picked up kills, Yemima Buana posted a block and Yareli Ruelas added an ace to make it 22-21, but the Rattlers pulled away.
-Looking to close the match, St. Mary's jumped out to leads of 7-3 and 9-4 early in the third, but the Jets had an answer, running off six straight points on the strength of two Turner kills, a block from Roth and a Braddy ace to make it 10-9. That quickly turned into a 12-1 run as Turner added a kill and a block, making it a 16-10 score, but the Rattlers closed strong to seal their win.
NOTES
-Turner posted 12 kills and 11 digs to put up her 12th double-double of the season and fourth straight down the stretch.
-Harvey added 11 kills on .267 hitting to go with three blocks. Burton posted 22 digs, while Braddy went for eight kills to go along with 14 digs.
-With the loss, the Jets were eliminated from postseason contention.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets close out their season with a road match at conference-leading Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday.
