SHAWNEE, Okla.- The Jets finished up play at the GAC/MIAA Crossover Tournament to close out their non-conference slate, facing off with Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Jets dropped a hard fought match in the deciding fifth set.

Newman and Northwestern Oklahoma State went point-for-point through the opening frame, with neither side able to separate by more than a few points. The Jets built a 19–14 lead after back-to-back Ranger attack errors, but Northwestern rallied with a late push to even the score at 22. The teams continued to trade points down the stretch, reaching a 24–24 tie. Newman then delivered in the clutch, as Brooklyn Lane capped the set with a service ace followed by a kill from Sky Miller to secure the opening set, 26–24.

Northwestern Oklahoma State answered in the second set, jumping out early and forcing the Jets into an uphill battle. The Rangers used a pair of service aces and steady attacking to grab control, stretching their lead to 19–11. The Jets tried to chip away behind kills from Isabella Lamb and Hannah Tymitz but Northwestern maintained its momentum. A late 3–0 push pulled Newman within 24–17, yet the Rangers closed it out on a kill to even the match with a 25–18 win.

Newman regained momentum in set three, using a balanced attack to take control early. The Jets strung together points behind multiple kills from Lamb and Miller, along with a service ace from Lane, to build an 11–7 lead and force a Ranger timeout. The momentum continued as Madalyn Hoot dropped in back-to-back aces to extend the advantage. Northwestern closed the gap to 20–19, but Newman held firm, with Lamb and Tymitz coming up big in the final stretch. The Jets sealed the third frame, 25–21, to take a 2–1 lead in the match.

The Jets fell behind early in the fourth set but rallied midway through, using a string of kills and a block to even the score at 18–18. Momentum swung back and forth down the stretch, with Newman pulling within one at 22–21. Despite the late push, the Rangers held on to take the frame 25–22, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.

Northwestern Oklahoma State raced out to a fast start in the decisive set, opening on a 6-0 run to put Newman on its heels early. The Jets chipped away, using kills and strong defensive touches to pull within 10-8, but the Rangers responded with timely points to stay in front. Newman closed the gap again late, trimming the deficit to 14-12, but Northwestern closed out the frame 15-12 to take the match in five sets.

Player Notes: 

-Isabella Lamb posted a team-high 17 kills on 38 attempts.
-Brooklyn Lane added 23 digs.
-Madalyn Hoot dished out 45 assists.