The Newman University volleyball team swept a doubleheader from Oklahoma Panhandle State Saturday afternoon at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets (8-23, 4-8 HC) swept the first match from the Lady Aggies (5-23, 1-11 HC) then beat their Heartland Conference rival in five to take the late game.
Newman had little trouble in the first match but OPSU bounced back to take two of the first three sets in the afternoon tilt. Perhaps on another day that would have put the Jets back on their heels. Instead, Newman roared back to win the final two sets by a combined score of 40-21. With the victory, the Jets improved to 3-1 in five-set matches.
Chelsey Potter led the Jets with a double-double of 19 kills and 13 digs to go along with a .441 hitting percentage. Ashley Myers and Caroline Painter split 55 assists between them. Angie Bennett stuffed the stat sheet with 14 kills, six digs, 4 block assists and three set assists. Lauren Poe also contributed 15 kills with a .400 hitting percentage. Kelley Calvi led Newman defensively with 21 digs.
In the first match of the day, Newman pulled out a heated first set before cruising to a 3-0 victory. It took extra points to decide the first set, with the Jets ultimately pulling out a 30-28 win.
Myers had 13 assists in the opening frame to set the tone for Newman. She finished with a team-high 25 assists. Poe recorded 13 kills while Renee Breckenridge collected 10 kills with the help of a .600 hitting percentage. Bennett had four block assists and Brianna Witsman added three solo blocks. Potter contributed 15 digs, seven kills and the national anthem before the match.
Oklahoma Panhandle State came out on fire in the second set, scoring four of the first five points. The Lady Aggies built a 12-7 lead before the Jets once again took off. Solid serving from Potter, Myers, and Kelley Calvi led a 12-4 Newman run, putting the Jets on top 19-16. OPSU came back within a point before Newman put away five of the final six points of the set.
The final set was not nearly as competitive. Newman trailed only once, 1-2, and enjoyed a lead of three points or better for the majority of the match. Poe and Breckenridge combined for nine of Jets 15 kills in the set, while Caroline Painter notched seven assists to help close out Newman’s third 3-0 win of the year.
The Jets return to action Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Texas A&M International.