WICHITA, KS – Newman hosted Fort Hays State Saturday afternoon in Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets and Tigers took a full five sets to decide a winner in the match. The back and forth match saw no scoring runs greater than 5 achieved once by each MIAA opponent.
Newman, now 5-5 (1-3 MIAA), fell to FHSU, 8-5 (2-2 MIAA), on Saturday afternoon. The scoring for both teams was separated by no more than 6 points as the deciding score of set 2 was (25-19).
Set 1: 25-23 NU
Newman hit .297 in the opening set. The largest separation between the two teams was 3 points. The Jets went on a 4 point scoring run to take the lead 17-15. The run was book ended by two
Salome Romp kills. Romp finished with a match best 23 kills. With the score tied at 23 Newman's block showed up with Romp and
Imani Jones sending consecutive Tiger swings back to their opponent's side.
Set 2: 25-19 FHSU
Fort Hays State took the second set which was fairly back and forth, but amounted their lead by gaining an extra point or two off of Jets defensive miscues. The Jets evened up the match 14-14 before the Tigers outscored Newman 11-5 to close out set 2.
Set 3: 25-21 FHSU
The Tigers earned their set 3 victory the hard way. The Jets only hit .070, but held FHSU to a .133 hitting percentage. The Jets took a 14-12 lead enjoying kills and blocks from all over the place. The luck ran out as the Tigers went on their 5 point run. The Jets could not amass the comeback and fell in set 3.
Set 4: 25-21 NU
Trailing 2-1, with their backs against the wall, the Jets came out with an ultra-aggressive attitude. Newman tallied 14 kills and 5 blocks in set 4. Tied at 18, Newman took their outcome into their own hands with a 5 point run of their own capped off with a
Salome Romp kill assisted by
Jenna DeVore. DeVore finished with 28 assists in all.
Set 5: 15-13 FHSU
In the final set of Saturday's match, the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead and the Jets could only bring it within one throughout the set. Despite Newman connecting on 10 of their swings, FHSU swung .280 and won the match with 9 kills in the final set.
By the Numbers:
The Jets had 19 blocks led by
Imani Jones with 8 and
Jada Key with 6.
Solame Romp hit .203 with 23 kills while
Riley Daugherty and
Kaylie Kovach each had double digit kills. Daugherty and Kovach had 17 and 10 collectively.
While hitting a team best .288.
Riley Daugherty added 21 digs. the Freshman has made it a habit of earning double-doubles.
Up next: The Jets are back in action Tuesday, September 28th against Pittsburg State. First serve is slated for 6 PM in Pittsburg, Kansas. Tuesday's match is the first of three road dates for Newman who travel to Washburn and Emporia State Friday and Staurday as well.
