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Volleyball players reflect as their season comes to an end

By Katie Sullivan, Staff Writer

The Newman Volleyball team fell Saturday to the No. 4 ranked Ichabods of Washburn in Topeka, bringing the Jets’ record to 16 set wins and 77 set losses for 1 game win and 25 game losses.

Although the Jets’ had a losing season, sophomore middle blocker Jada Key believes this season was bigger than a record.

“We never lost a game. It’s win or learn and we have learned a lot this season and will take it into next season,” Key said. “We may not have won as many games as we would like to but we showed moments of greatness within every match that we played.”

What the Jets have learned this season has allowed them to reach goals as a team, she said.

“One big accomplishment as a team I believe we achieved was that we held each other accountable, which helped lead us to a winning game,” Key said. “There was definitely a more positive atmosphere and competitiveness in the gym which as a team was one of the most rewarding feelings ever.”

As the season comes to an end Thursday in a road match against Missouri Western, the team members plan to take what they have accomplished this season and last and show what they know in their final three sets.

Sophomore defensive specialist Kenlee Martin said she hopes the team will play as if there is no record and show people what it can do.

Key has a similar outlook for the final three sets of the season.

“One goal I have for the team is that we just leave it all out on the court. No regrets, just fun and competing and getting better, finding things that work… so we can learn from it and take it into the next game,” Key said.

After their final outings for the 2019 season, the Jets will return to the gym during the offseason to prepare for the second year in the competitive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

Key said her goal is to work on technique that wasn’t shown during the year to prepare for when fall returns, and Martin agrees.

“It’s always interesting to see what we will have planned for the offseason,” Martin said, “but I would say a lot of fundamentals and structure and being more consistent.”

The Jets play at 6 p.m Friday and at 4 p.m. Saturday and will face the No. 14 ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats and No. 9 ranked Central Missouri Jennies, respectively.

PHOTO: Courtesy Photo, Newman Athletics.