Last season for Fort Hays State Volleyball was a milestone year; first 20 win season since 2004 (last year Tigers made the NCAA tournament) and their most wins within the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association since joining the conference and coming into 2013 the Tigers are looking to build off of the success of 2012.
“I think the first thing we need to do is win more games at home,” said head coach Kurt Kohler. “We were 5-6 at home and 5-6 on the road.”
The Tigers are set up to make some moves within the conference, with five returning starters.
[raw][quote_right] “We’re expecting some good things from those kids.” ~ Coach Kurt Kohler.[/quote_right][/raw]
Senior middle hitter Jenna Ulrich, senior outside hitter Madison Schwartz, and senior libero Makenzie Weinman all return for the black and gold bringing their All-MIAA accolades with them. Juniors Taylor Mares and Sara Hewson who were third and fifth respectively on the team last season in kills, both have All-MIAA honors to their resume as well make the return.
Ulrich will be the catalyst once again for 2013. Last season she led the team in kills (313), blocks (121), and points (406.5) from last season.
“Jenna had a great spring with us and worked a lot over the summer,” Kohler said.
Fort Hays will be bolstered on the outside as sophomores Tara Hoekman and Mallory Flaggor return. Hoekman and Flaggor both saw significant playing time as freshman last season. Flaggor was sixth on the team in kills 77 and Hoekman was fourth on the team with 281 digs and fourth on the team with 23 assists. The Tigers as well will mix in a pair of veteran transfer setter junior Libby Ary and Rachel Parsons.
“We’ve got a good group of young people that can contribute,” said Kohler.
Last season the Tigers finished seventh in the conference and that is where the voter’s preseason ranked the Tigers heading into 2013. Fort Hays has a tough MIAA scheduled that is dotted by matchups with No.2 Nebraska-Kearney, No.7 Washburn, and No. 8 Central Missouri.