FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State Volleyball’s Senior Day was spoiled by No. 21 Central Missouri on Sunday (Nov. 2), as the Tigers dropped a 3-1 (25-12, 19-25, 25-17, 25-17) contest to the Jennies.
FHSU is now 13-14 overall on the year, dropping to 7-11 in conference play.
The Tigers were never close in the first set, falling behind 13-1 early, hurt by a -.077 hitting percentage. UCM grabbed a lead in the match with a 25-12 set win.
After a tough first set, the second set was a different story for FHSU, who opened play with its burst, taking a 5-0 lead with kills from Mallory Flagor and Sara Hewson. After stretching the lead to eight (13-5), FHSU was forced to battle with UCM throughout after the Jennies cut it to three (14-1), though they never relinquished the lead. Up 18-13, the Tigers allowed one last push by UCM (a 3-0 run) before recovering and taking the set, 25-19.
The third and fourth sets were similar for both teams, as the squads battled for the early portions before late runs by the Jennies put the match away. In the third set, trailing by two (10-8), FHSU gave up a 4-1 run by UCM that provided separation en route to a 25-17 set win. The fourth set saw FHSU trailing, 7-9, before a 9-4 run for UCM (with a burst of three unanswered) put the set out of reach as UCM won, 25-17.
Hewson paced the Tigers’ offense, leading the team with 16 kills and posting a double-digit kills performance for the second consecutive evening. Hewson’s kill count was her highest since Sept. 8, 2012.
Katilin Bradley was second on the team with eight kills, adding 14 digs (also second-highest for FHSU). Keanu Bradley’s 35 digs was a career-high, and also marked the second straight 30-plus dig game for the libero.
At the net, Callie Christensen and Rebekah Spainhour each had five blocks.
FHSU closes the 2014 campaign with four road games, beginning Nov. 7 at Missouri Western.