By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Despite a solid offensive effort of its own, the Fort Hays State volleyball team was unable to keep pace with a highly effective Central Oklahoma squad Saturday afternoon (Sept. 22), going down in straight sets. The 16th-ranked Bronchos posted an impressive .387 attack percentage in the win, while the Tigers countered with a .148 swing rate of their own, their best outing in two weeks.
The Tigers put up quite the fight in the opening set, matching UCO blow for blow. The score was tied as late as 10-10 before the Bronchos tried to pull away, but for the home team had an answer for every run. After UCO went up by three, kills from Morgan West and Azlyn Cassaday helped the Tigers close within one, 18-17. The visitors then went to their closer, returning All-American Taylor Bevis who compiled three kills over a six-point stretch to give the Bronchos a serve for the set, 24-17. The Tigers clawed back with three-straight points before the Bronchos put the set on ice, 25-20.
Central Oklahoma jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the second set and never let up, heading to the locker room after a 25-14 victory. The Tigers came out firing in the third set, keeping the score within two until the midway point of the frame. The lead changed hands three times early on in the frame, including 10 ties. A kill from Bre Becker and an ace for Tatum Bartels handed the Tigers a 13-12 advantage before leading as late as 14-13. Central Oklahoma came alive at that point, capturing the next seven points to break things open, 20-14. Kills from Ashley Webb and Isabelle Reynolds helped the Tigers close within four, but the Bronchos finished things off after scoring the final five points of the match to wrap up the win, 25-16.
Reynolds led the team with 10 kills while adding a team-high 12 digs for her first career double-double. West posted an impressive .500 swing rate from the opposite side, contributing eight kills to just one error. Becker tossed up 18 assists with Katie Darnell adding 12 assists.
Fort Hays State will head back out on the road next weekend when they return to MIAA play against Northwest Missouri State Friday (Sept. 28) at 6 p.m.