ALVA, Okla. — Despite playing in close sets throughout, the Newman volleyball team fell 3-0 in a nonconference matchup at Northwestern Oklahoma State Tuesday evening.
KEY SEQUENCE
The Jets (3-2) held leads in each of the three sets, but the Rangers (5-0) were able to mount comebacks in each one. The most important one was likely in the second, as Newman held a 17-12 advantage, but NWOSU rumbled back with a 9-3 run to go up 21-20 After the Jets tied it on the next point, the hosts put down four straight kills to win the set and go up 2-0 in the eventual 26-24, 25-21, 25-20 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Newman scored the first four points of the match with the help of three NWOSU errors, and led by at least two until a four-point run by the Rangers made it 13-11. Two kills from Yemima Buana and two more from Sarah Peterson keyed a 5-2 run later to make it 17-all, and Megan Pedersen's kill put the Jets up two at 21-19. Hailey Braddy later made it 23-21, but the Rangers reeled off three straight. Another Buana kill staved off set point, but NWOSU would close it out.
-There were seven ties and three lead changes early in the second before the Jets pushed out 10-8 off of kills from Pedersen and Kayla Turner. That lead extended to 13-9 with kills from Turner and Braddy around a Pedersen block, and a Petersen kill before two NWOSU errors made it 17-12 before the Rangers launched their comeback.
-Kills from Turner and Pedersen gave Newman a 4-1 lead early in the third as they looked to extend the match. An ace out of Reagen Roth and a kill by Sophia Helsing helped boost that lead to five at 9-4, while back-to-back aces from Pedersen extended it to 14-7. The Rangers responded by scoring the next five points, then going on a 6-0 run later to flip that into a 20-17 lead for the hosts, who were able to hold on for the three-set victory.
NOTES
-Pedersen led the team with nine kills, 18 assists and two aces, while also adding seven digs. Anna Burton added 21 digs, while Braddy and Buana each put up seven kills.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets return to tournament play this weekend, starting off two days in Colorado with matches against Colorado-Colorado Springs and Colorado Mines on Friday.
