FHSU Sports Information Department
EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State fell in straight sets to Emporia State in conference play on Friday night (Sept. 25). The Tigers committed 23 attacking errors in the match as they fell to 8-6 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA. ESU improved to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State started the match well, notching five kills without an error to build a 10-4 lead in the first set. With FHSU leading 11-5, a rash of errors, both attacking and handling, shifted the momentum into ESU’s favor. Four attacking errors and a couple of bad sets quickly brought the Hornets even with the Tigers at 13-13. Moments later, four more Tiger attacking errors were part of a 6-0 Emporia State run to seize control of the set at 20-15. FHSU pulled back within four, but two more attacking errors by the Tigers ended the set at 25-18 in Emporia State’s favor. FHSU had nine kills, but 11 errors, finishing with a -.059 hitting percentage for the opening set.
The offense struggled once again in the second set with 11 kills and eight errors for a .064 hitting percentage. The Tigers led 19-16, but hitting errors again led to another set slipping through the Tigers fingers. Three attacking errors, coupled with two Hornet kills quickly pushed ESU into the lead at 21-19. Down 22-20, FHSU had two attacking errors and then a bad set to hand ESU a 25-20 win.
FHSU turned in a better performance in the third with 13 kills and just four errors to hit .273, but ESU countered with their best set of the night at .297 with 17 kills. FHSU held multiple leads of three in the set, but 19-16 was the score once again where the Hornets went on a run, this time a 6-1 burst to take a 22-20 lead. The Tigers could not catch the Hornets from that point, falling 25-22.
Emporia State finished with a .216 hitting percentage in the match, while FHSU finished at .088. Emporia State also notched 11 team blocks on the night to Fort Hays State’s four.
Mallory Flagor led the Tigers in kills with 10, while adding 10 digs for a double-double. Hannah Wagy produced 27 assists and Crystal Whitten had a team-high 15 digs.
Shayla Cotman led the Hornet attack with nine kills. Setter Kimberly Bell had a double-double with 17 assists and 12 digs. Kelly Holden led ESU in digs with 13.
The Tigers head to Topeka for a match with No. 7 ranked Washburn on Saturday evening (Sept. 26) at 6 pm.