FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State University volleyball team jumps into action for the 2016 season this weekend when they travel to Goodwell, Okla. for the Sixth Annual Aggies Challenge Friday and Saturday (Sept. 2-3). The Tigers will open the year with a match against UC-Colorado Springs Friday at 11 a.m. before facing off with Northwestern Oklahoma State at 3 p.m.
The tournament continues Saturday when FHSU plays Texas-Permian Basin at 11 a.m. The opening weekend wraps up with a 7 p.m. contest against tournament hosts Oklahoma Panhandle State. All matches will be played inside Oscar Williams Field House on the campus of OPSU.
Tickets are available at the door for $5 per day or $8 for the entirety of the tournament. Live video and live stats links will be posted to fhsuathletics.com when they become available.
The Tigers hold a combined 46-5 record against this weekend’s opponents, leading the all-time series against all four institutions.
FHSU is 16-3 in the state of Oklahoma under head coach Kurt Kohler, including a 6-2 mark in the Sooner State last year. The Tigers previously participated in the Aggies Challenge in 2012, finishing the opening weekend 4-0 after dropping just four sets.
Fort Hays State is coming off one of its strongest seasons in recent history, earning its first winning record in MIAA play at 10-8 en route to a 21-13 overall finish. It was Kohler’s second 20-win season at FHSU, tied for the most by a head coach since the program joined NCAA Division II in 1992 (Jesse Mahoney).
The Tigers finished sixth in the MIAA standings in 2015, up two spots from an eighth-place finish in 2014. Coach Kohler’s squad will look to continue climbing the ranks after returning 11 letter winners from a year ago, including four All-MIAA performers in Rebekah Spainhour, Crystal Whitten, Megan Anderson and Sydney Dixon.
Spainhour tied for the team lead with 93 total blocks in 2015, adding 288 kills to pick up second team all-conference honors. Anderson was an honorable mention selection after matching Spainhour with 93 total blocks on the year.
Whitten earned second-team accolades led the team with 420 kills, 438 digs and 27 service aces as a junior while Dixon was listed as honorable mention after compiling 190 kills, 30 total blocks and 77 digs as a true freshman.
The addition of 14 newcomers (10 freshmen and four transfers) will help provide depth across the floor, with several new faces poised to see significant playing time.
FHSU vs. UC-Colorado Springs Friday, September 2 11 a.m. FHSU leads all-time series, 12-4
Goodwell, Okla. Oscar Williams Fieldhouse
The Mountain Lions finished the 2015 season 16-12 overall, earning the sixth seed in the RMAC Tournament before bowing out in the quarterfinals. UCCS hit .189 as a team last season, averaging 13.1 kills per set. They return five starters from a year ago, including second team All-RMAC setter Morgan Evans.
FHSU vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State Friday, September 2 3 p.m. FHSU leads all-time series, 11-0
Goodwell, Okla. Oscar Williams Fieldhouse
The Rangers turned in an 11-18 record in 2015, finishing seventh in the GAC before falling in the first round of the GAC Tournament. NWOSU recorded a .178 attack percentage on the year, adding 1.6 blocks and 15.3 digs per set. One of four Rangers returning to the starting lineup is All-GAC honorable mention middle hitter Natalie Fahey, who hit .311 for the year while leading the conference with 49 service aces.
FHSU vs. Texas-Permian Basin Saturday, September 3 11 a.m. FHSU leads all-time series, 3-1
Goodwell, Okla. Oscar Williams Fieldhouse
The Falcons are coming off an 8-17 record last season, missing out on the Hartland Conference Tournament after finishing 5-11 in league play. UTPB averaged 1.3 service aces per set in 2015, compiling a hitting percentage of .106 with nearly two blocks per set as a team. Head coach Tim Loesch’s squad returns three starters this season. The leader of that group is junior outside hitter Caitlyn Guajardo, who led the team with 193 kills while adding 31 total blocks on the year.
FHSU at Oklahoma-Panhandle State Saturday, September 3 7 p.m. FHSU leads all-time series, 20-0
Goodwell, Okla. Oscar Williams Fieldhouse
The Aggies posted a 1-32 record in 2015, failing to record a conference victory on the year. However, head coach Mike Stephens returns seven starters from a year ago, including senior middle blocker Rylee Abert, who contributed 53 total blocks and 123 kills. As a team, OPSU hit at a .084 clip, adding 11.8 digs per set on defense.