Newman University Athletics

FORT SMITH, Ark. — Newman (9-20, 3-9 Mid-America Intercollegiate) lost to Ark.-Fort Smith (18-14, 3-9 Mid-America Intercollegiate) 3-0 on Saturday at Stubblefield Center. The Jets' closest set came in the second, when they cut a 17-8 deficit to 24-22 before falling 25-22.

Newman traded early points with Ark.-Fort Smith, tying the opening set 4-4 on an Isabella Lamb kill and again at 6-6 on a Sky Miller kill. Ark.-Fort Smith moved in front with seven straight points with Mayli Whetter serving, using kills from Codi Jackson, Lydia Pitts and Emily Parker along with a service ace to make it 13-6. The Jets cut the margin to 13-9 behind a Miller kill, a Madalyn Hoot ace and an Ashlyn Warburton kill, then later got within 16-13, but Ark.-Fort Smith pushed ahead 22-14 and closed the set 25-16 on another Pitts kill.

After Newman scored the first point of the second set, Ark.-Fort Smith answered with five straight points and later used kills from Breanna Smith, Codi Jackson and Mayli Whetter to build a 17-8 lead. The Jets cut into the deficit with two Hannah Tymitz kills during a three-point stretch, but Ark.-Fort Smith pushed back ahead 23-14 on kills by Jackson and Pitts. Priscilla Raschen and Kierny Follmer had kills to keep Newman within 23-16 before a Pitts kill gave Ark.-Fort Smith set point at 24-16. The Jets made a late six-point run behind a Raschen kill, three Miller kills, a Hoot kill and a Reese Johnson ace to get within 24-22, but Whetter finished the set for Ark.-Fort Smith, 25-22.

Newman stayed even through the opening stretch of the third set, using kills from Avery Kelley, Raschen and Warburton and Kelley-Warburton block to help reach ties at 7-7, 10-10 and 11-11. Ark.-Fort Smith moved ahead 14-11 on a service ace and a kill by Aspen Olson, and after Warburton answered, the home team pushed the margin to 17-12 with kills from Smith, Pitts and Olson. The Jets got kills from Raschen and Miller to stay within 18-15, but Ark.-Fort Smith scored the final seven points, including a Whetter service ace and a Pitts kill, to take the set 25-15.

Newman Top Performers

Priscilla Raschen

• team-high 9 kills
• .350 hitting percentage
• 2 digs
• 1 block

Reese Daugherty

• team-high 18 digs
• 1 assist

Madalyn Hoot

• 29 assists
• 3 digs
• 2 kills
• 1 service ace

Sky Miller

• 8 kills
• 9 digs
• 2 assists

Ashlyn Warburton

• 6 kills
• .286 hitting percentage
• 2 blocks

This game wraps up Head Coach Tori Provencio's first season with the Jets. Provencio and the Jets finished 9-20 on the season (3-9 in conference play).