box score 
 
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin played its way back into the Heartland Conference Tournament with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-23) sweep over Newman.  With the win, the Falcons will secure either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the upcoming tournament depending on the outcome of this weekend's matches across the league. 
 
UTPB held the Jets to a .073 hitting percentage as Newman collected five of its 39 kills when the Falcons led 24-12 in the third and final set.  UTPB on the other hand, hit .175 and picked up 12 block assists and two solo blocks as it improved to 19-14 overall and 8-5 in league play. 
 
The Falcons struggled early as Newman matched them point-for-point.  The Jets took the lead just once in the set, but managed to tie it on nine different occasions including 16-16 when Jeana Farruggia picked up a kill down the line.  UTPB would use a 9-4 run the rest of the way to take the first set. 
 
UTPB never trailed in the second set as it used a 3-0 run to open and never looked back.  Newman would eventually tied it at three before the Falcons used an 8-2 run to lead 11-5.  They would eventually take a 20-12 advantage after a Newman attack error, but a 5-2 run by the Jets closed the gap to 22-17.  They would come no closer the rest of the way as the Falcons took a two set lead. 
 
The third set saw UTPB open up with a 17-10 advantage and looked like it would roll to victory, but the Falcons were unable to close the match out.  Trailing 24-12, Newman rattled off 11-straight points to pull within one (24-23), but a kill by Jamie Rodell, who finished with a team-high eight, put the match away. 
 
Heather Sanchez, who had 13 kills without an error in UTPB's previous match, was stellar once again with seven kills with just one error.  Keeley Brogdon also had seven kills in the win. 
 
The Falcons will close out the regular season Saturday when they host Arkansas-Fort Smith at noon in the Falcon Dome.