By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team has secured a trip to St. Joseph, Mo. for the 2024 MIAA Championship Tournament. The Tigers finished eighth in the league’s final KPI rankings, which were used to determine seeding for the tournament due to the unbalanced nature of the conference schedule this year.
As the No. 8 seed in the tournament, the Tigers will take on regular season champion Nebraska-Kearney in the conference quarterfinals on Thursday (Nov. 21). First serve is set for 5 p.m. from the St. Joseph Civic Arena. The full schedule for the tournament can be found below.
This is FHSU’s first trip to the postseason since 2021 and its fifth trip to the MIAA Volleyball Championship Tournament since joining the league in 2006.
Fort Hays State played UNK close in both regular season meetings, taking the first set at home and the second frame on the road in a pair of 3-1 Loper victories.
Missouri Western earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament and will play No. 7 Central Missouri in the quarterfinals. Third-seeded Central Oklahoma draws No. 6 Emporia State, while Washburn and Northwest Missouri State are seeded fourth and fifth, respectively, and will match up in the last quarterfinal.
Advancing teams will play in the semifinals on Friday (Nov. 22), with the title game set for 6 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 23).
All-tournament tickets are available for $30, while daily tickets will cost $15 for adults, $10 for students and youth. Kids four and under will be admitted for free.
Live video coverage of the tournament will be available on The MIAA Network. Fans with active monthly or all-access subscriptions will already have access to watch the tournament. Other purchase options include a $20 per match fee or a $25 all-tournament pass that gains access to all seven matches of the event.
2024 MIAA Volleyball Championship Schedule
Thursday, November 21 (Quarterfinals):
12:00 PM – #2 Missouri Western vs. #7 Central Missouri
2:30 PM – #3 Central Oklahoma vs. #6 Emporia State
5:00 PM – #1 Nebraska-Kearney vs. #8 Fort Hays State
7:30 PM – #4 Washburn vs. #5 Northwest Missouri State
Friday, November 22 (Semifinals):
5:00 PM – 2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner
7:30 PM – 1/8 winner vs. 4/5 winner
Saturday, November 23:
6:00 PM – Championship Game
Saturday
MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team dropped a four-set battle at Northwest Missouri State Saturday evening (Nov. 16), losing 10-25, 28-26, 13-25, 16-25. The Tigers conclude the regular season 12-13 overall and 4-12 in league action, while the Bearcats are 15-11 this season and 9-7 in MIAA play.
The Tigers are still in the mix for a bid into the 2024 MIAA Championship Tournament, with that bracket set to be released later this evening. FHSU entered the final day of the regular season ranked seventh in the league’s KPI rankings, which will be used to determine seeding for the tournament due to the unbalanced nature of the conference schedule this year.
The Bearcats took control early in the first set, using an 11-1 run to quickly build a double-digit lead before taking the frame 25-10. The Tigers battled back in the second set, posting an attack percentage of .208 thanks to just four errors in a 28-26 victory.
Neither side led by more than two until midway through the frame when the Bearcats slowly pulled away to an 18-13 lead. NWMSU later led 23-19 before a five-point Tiger rally suddenly put the Tigers at set point. Claire Olson recorded three-straight kills during the run, helping FHSU stay in the set.
The Tigers had two chances at set point, with NWMSU thwarting each attempt before the Bearcats blew their own chance to take the frame at 26-25. Another Olson kill leveled things at 26 before a kill from Tallon Rentschler secured the 28-26 win.
Northwest Missouri State quickly shook off the loss, taking the third set 25-13 and the fourth 25-16 to complete the home win.
Olson led the team with 11 kills, while Ella Goodwinadded 10 kills and one solo block. Abrey Galt dished out a team-high 19 assists while adding one service ace and six digs. Kirsten Evans totaled a team-best 21 digs, her seventh match this season with at least 20 digs. Four Bearcats reached double figures in kills, led by 13 from Abby Brunssen.
The Tigers hit .109 as a team (41-23-165) while Northwest posted a swing rate of .314 (66-12-172).
Friday
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team fell in three sets on the road at Missouri Western Friday evening (Nov. 15), losing 19-25, 10-25, 15-25. The Tigers are now 12-12 on the year and 4-11 in conference play, while the Griffons improve to 22-6 overall and 12-4 in league action.
The teams traded the lead four times early on in the first set, with FHSU keeping things within one for the first half of the frame. Leading 14-13, Missouri Western used an 11-6 run to pull away and take the set, 25-19. The Griffons then scored the first five points in the second set before going on to win 25-10.
Fort Hays State took the lead early in the third set thanks to kills from Ella Goodwin and Gracie Rains. The Tigers led as late as 8-7 before the Griffons used a 10-3 run to take control. Missouri Western continued to control the momentum, going on to secure the sweep with a 25-15 win.
Ashlyn Reeves led the Tigers with six kills, with Goodwin and Rains each adding five kills apiece. Grace Schmedding totaled a team-best 11 digs, with Caiya Stucky dishing out 16 assists.
Emily Loy paced the Griffons with 17 kills on 33 attempts.