FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State Volleyball welcomes Lindenwood and No. 21 Central Missouri to Gross Memorial Coliseum this weekend for its final home stand of the season. The Tigers take on the Lions on Saturday (Nov. 1), followed by a Senior Day matchup on Sunday (Nov. 2) against the Jennies.
FHSU (12-13, 6-10 MIAA) saw its five-match winning streak snapped in its last contest, but remains just one conference win short of tying the school record for MIAA wins (seven), set in 2012. The Tigers are currently tied for seventh in the MIAA standings with Northwest Missouri State, one game behind Emporia State. FHSU was picked to finish 10th in the MIAA Coaches’ Preseason Poll, and will look to improve on that prediction with six matches to play in the regular season.
Mallory Flagor, fifth in the MIAA with 316 kills, has put together double-digit kill performances in 20 of 25 matches this year, and leads the team with a 4.3 kills per set average. Joining her on the right side is Taylor Mares, second on the team with 214 kills.
In the middle, Rebekah Spainhour (191 kills, 65 blocks) and Callie Christensen (95 kills, 66 blocks) have played their way into the starting rotation, anchoring the Tigers at the net. Christensen has picked things up over the past 10 games, leading with 39 blocks during that span (1.18 per set).
Raegan Vanderplas has filled into the setter role over the past six games, sharing time with Kristin Conor. Vanderplas has averaged 5.9 assists per set in the last six games, and has over 20 assists in four of those matches. Conor’s 410 assists leads the team.
Libero Keanu Bradley has continued her strong play in the back row, digging up 5.27 attacks per set (which is currently fourth all-time on the school’s digs per set NCAA Division II record list). Bradley is second in the MIAA with 474 digs overall this season, putting together 11 matches with over 20 digs.
LWU (5-19, 2-14 MIAA) sits last in the conference, but picked up their second conference win against FHSU, 3-1, earlier this year in St. Charles, Mo. The Lions are led offensively by Shannon Doyle, who has 215 kills. Anna Reichert has dug up 311 attacks for the year, pairing with Kayla Guyot (63 blocks) for the team lead in their respective categories. Setter Ivy Reynolds’ 412 assists is a team-high
UCM (16-8, 13-3 MIAA) swept FHSU earlier this year in Warrensburg, Mo., 3-0, and is tied for second in the MIAA standings. Carly Sojka’s 330 kills (4.02 per set) leads the Jennies, while Kourtney Thompson has 836 assists on the year. Defensively, Haley Thompson has a team-high 83 blocks and Annie Reilly has 443 digs.
Seniors Kelsey Broadwell, Sara Hewson, Taylor Mares and Student Assistant Coach Kelsey Darnell will be honored following Sunday’s game as part of Senior Day.