SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- The Jets faced #7 Southwest Minnesota State and Drury on day two of the Drury Invitational.
Game One vs #7 Southwest Minnesota State: How It Happened:
- Set one of the day was a back and forth battle, until the Mustangs started to go on a run and created a lead of 15-8. After that run, the Jets couldn't close the deficit and the Mustangs went on to win the set 25-13.
- Set two was similar to the first set. The Jets allowed the Mustangs to hop to an early lead which made it hard for the Jets to create a run for themselves. Newman would drop set two, 25-14.
- Set three the Jets fought to stay in the game. The Jets snuck out to an early 4-2 lead with Mustangs making errors and a kill by Hannah Tymitz. Though the Jets had the lead, the Mustangs came back to overtake the Jets with a 16-10 lead. Newman tried to make another run and closed the gap to 16-13, but SMSU never let up which allowed them to take the close set, 25-20.
-SMSU took the win, 3-0.
Players Notes:
- Natalie Trigo led the defense with 19 digs.
- Avery Dempsey added 18 assists.
- Ozioma Ajekwu recorded 10 kills to lead the Jets offense.
- Savannah Schwarz makes her first appearance as a Jet, tallying a career high 8 digs.
Game Two vs Drury: How It Happened:
- Set one went to Drury after they put together a run around the midway point to take the lead 20-9. Attacking and service errors put the Jets in a tough spot to be able to make a run back at the Panthers. Drury took set one, 25-10.
- Set two the Jets came out hot. Winning the first three points and created a lead from there. With kills by Tymitz and Ajekwu, the Jets kept growing their lead. Newman found themselves in the lead at 20-10. More kills from Ajekwu, and two aces in a row for Dempsey allowed the Jets to extend their lead, winning the game 25-15.
- In the third set, the Jets couldn't keep hold of the momentum they created in the second set. The Panthers were able to create a large lead and never let the Jets back into the game. Drury took set three, 25-10.
- The fourth set, Newman found themselves with a 5-1 and kept the lead until the Panthers battled back to overtake the Jets, 7-6. From that point on, the Panthers never let the Jets retake the lead. Though the Jets made great efforts to cut the deficit, the Panthers took the set 25-17.
- The final score: Drury 3, Newman 1.
Players Notes:
- Trigo added yet another game with double digit digs (17).
- Ajekwu added 13 kills.
- Dempsey tallied 30 assists, almost tying her season high.
The Jets will compete in one more non-conference tournament in Oklahoma. The Jets will face Oklahoma Baptist, Southern Nazarene, Southwestern Oklahoma State, and East Central University starting next Thursday at 3:30 PM and ending their tournament play on Saturday at 11 AM.