AUSTIN, TEX – The Newman Jets volleyball team battled in their conference opener, but came up short against St. Edwards University Thursday evening falling 3-1. The Jets dropped to 1-14 on the year and 0-1 in the Heartland.

The Jets got off to a rough start in the first set falling behind early 4-0. The Jets would tie things up on a Hailey Braddy kill before taking their first lead 7-6 on Mackenzie Anderson's service ace, capping a 7-2 run. SEU would gain control midway through the first set using a 6-1 run, taking first set 25-15.

The Jets would fall behind early in the second set, until Jada Key kill cut the Hilltoppers lead to 6-5. SEU used a 6-0 run gaining control in the second set. The Jets would cut the SEU lead down to 14-12 after Sophia Helsing kill. SEU never looked back using an 11-3 run, taking second set 25-15 putting the Jets down 2-0 in the match.

Early in the third set Mackenzie Anderson would tie the set at 5-5 on back-to-back service aces. The Jets would take their first lead 6-5, the very next play on a Trinity Conley kill. The set would stay neck and neck through the middle of the set. The Jets found themselves trailing 21-15 needing a quick spark. The Jets gained new life after Sophia Helsing recorded back-to-back kills shifting the momentum towards the Jets. The Jets continued to build the momentum thanks in big part to five costly Hilltoppers errors. The Jets used an 11-4 run taking the set 26-24 and cutting the SEU match lead 2-1, forcing a fourth set.

The Jets momentum in the third set would continue early on in the fourth set jumping out to the early 5-1 lead. The Hilltoppers however kept battling evening the score at 13-13. The Jets momentum got taken away after two costly handling errors leading to a 4-0 Hilltopper run. The Jets would fall in the fourth set 25-19 dropping the match 3-1.

-         Hailey Braddy led the Jets with 12 kills

-         The Jets finished with 43 kills on the night, second most on the season.

The Jets will finish their three game road trip Saturday (Sept. 29) at 12 p.m. against Dallas Baptist University.