JOPLIN, Mo - Newman Volleyball took to the road for 1 match to keep up the fight for a spot in the MIAA tournament, going up against a Missouri Southern team who entered tonight's MIAA matchup 8-11, 3-7 losing earlier in the season at Newman in what was the Jets MIAA opener. 

The Jets looked to end a 5 game losing streak and get their first win since beating Emporia State on September 24th. 

NU got off to a slow start, finding themselves down big late into the first set because a late surge brought the once 24-17 MSS lead to what would be a 25-22 set 1 victory for the Lions. 

The Jets kept the momentum gained from the late surge and brought it over into set 2 with a 4-0 run to start, getting up to a 14-6 lead as an Abby Borough and Natalie Meyer kill along with a Mckinzie Weaver service ace gave the Jets enough breathing room and one of their biggest leads. MSSU brought the fight and kept it close in set 2 but a 3-0 run capped off by back to back service aces by Ashton George gave the Jets the set 2 victory. 

Set 3 showed a competitive back and forth toss up as neither the Jets or Lions could get too big of a lead until Ozioma Ajekwu gave the Jets 3 out of their next 4 points to give Newman a 7 point lead at 21-14. Newman fed off of back to back attack errors by the Lions to put themselves in a position to leave Joplin with a victory after winning back to back sets and going into the 4th up 2-1. 

The Jets turned around a slow start that had only 7 kills to go along with 8 errors in set 1 to 29 kills and only 3 errors in sets 2 and 3. 

Newman looked as if they had the match under control, holding a 13-7 set 4 lead before a 5-0 Lions run put Missouri Southern back in the match that saw them tying the match at 15-15 after back to back Newman attack errors. The Lions then rode a 7-1 run to a 23-19 lead before Fernanda Canedo forced a 5th set with her 15th kill of the match. 

Missouri Southern jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the final set before an attack error, service ace, and a match ending kill by Amelia Neels gave MSSU the 5 set victory.

Missouri Southern outhit Newman on the night .188 to .179. The Jets had 12 service aces to go along with 17 blocks and 89 digs on the night.

Riley Daugherty led the Jets with 13 kills, while Abby Borough had a great night with 12 kills to go along with leading all players on the court with 8 blocks. Mckinzie Weaver had 41 assists on the night and Freshman Natalie Meyer ended the match with 9 kills.

Newman (7-14, 2-9) return home for a 2 game home stand as they gave Fort Hays State this Friday at 6 PM.