Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Goodwell, Okla.— This week the Aggies entered Heartland Conference play at home with matchups against Newman University and Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday and Friday. Starting off strong against the Jets, the ladies of Panhandle were ultimately overtaken in both contests falling 3-0 in each game.

In Thursday's league opener versus a 11-4 Newman team, the Aggies held their own against the Heartland's leading hitters; Newman holds a.214 team hitting percentage and averages over 14 kills per set, leading the conference in both categories. The Aggies took a two-point lead 5-3 early in set one, and battled back from a 20-9 deficit later in the set winning six-straight points with freshman Kendra Butler back to serve; Butler offered two aces in the possession. The Jets landed a kill to go up 21-15 ending Butler's reign, but Kalyn Moore answered with a kill for Panhandle putting the ball in Aggie hands. The Jets won possession on a service error and held on for the 25-19 win in the first set.

Although the Aggies put forth valiant efforts in sets two and three, Newman claimed final victory winning 25-18, 25-17 and improving to a 12-4 overall record. The Jets finished with a .303 hitting percentage totaling 39 kills on 76 attacks over the match; the Aggies held a .162 hitting percentage landing 23 kills on 74 attacks. Each team totaled four blocks, but Newman outscored the Aggies on the serve taking 11 points with aces, to Panhandle's three. Newman's Kayla turner led the game in kills with 11 and Brook Conley served up five aces for the Jets and led the team in digs with eight; Conley also held the game-high in assists with 33. For the Aggies Kayln Moore and Bristen Graves led with six kills each; Butler contributed two of the Aggies' three aces and Ibarra led the team with 21 assists and had one ace in the game. Rylee Abert led the game defensively with two solo blocks and block-assist.

Friday night saw sub-par performance by the Aggies compared to Thursday's efforts. Fort Smith walked away with a second conference win added to their record, as they defeated the Aggies 25-16, 25-21 and 25-9. The Lions averaged 12 kills per set and out-blocked the Aggies 11-2 over the three-set stint. Panhandle totaled six kills in each set and finished with a negative hitting percentage for the match (-.079). Emily Goeken and Kayln Moore led the Aggies in scoring with six points each as Goeken landed six kills; Moore earned her point off five kills and one service ace. Ibarra offered 17 assists and Kendra Butler had the team's only solo block; Rylee Abert and Bristen Graves assisted on the Aggies' second block. Kennadi Coleman held the game-high for scoring adding 13 points for the Lions on 12 kills and one solo block. UAFS advanced to first in the conference ranks with an overall record of 6-5 and are undefeated in Heartland play 2-0. The Aggies now sit 1-11 on the season and 0-2 within the league.

Panhandle State Volleyball will hold a busy schedule next week, starting with a road trip to Langston, Okla. for a tri-match with Langston University and Saint Gregory's on Tuesday, Sept. 27. The Aggies return home to continue conference play on Thursday with a game against Texas A&M-International at 7 p.m.; another Heartland matchup on Friday brings St. Mary's to the Oscar Williams Field House for a 7 p.m. first serve. This will be the last opportunity for a while that volleyball fans will be able to see the Aggies in action on their home court; the team will begin a two-week road stint after next week's competition, and will return to host their only home match in month of October on the 19th.