FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
GOODWELL, Okla. – The Fort Hays State University volleyball team wrapped up the opening weekend of the 2016 season with a perfect 4-0 record after a pair of victories Saturday (Sept. 3). The Tigers opened the day with an outstanding performance against Texas-Permian Basin, handing the Falcons (2-1) their first loss of the season in straight sets. FHSU steamrolled tournament hosts Oklahoma Panhandle State (0-4) in three to cap off a strong opening to the year.
The Tigers were the lone team to go undefeated in the Aggies Challenge, dropping just two sets on the weekend. It was the first time the team opened the season 4-0 since 2012, also at the Aggies Challenge.
FHSU will return to the floor next weekend when it travels to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Fairfield Inn & Suites Volleyball Invitational, hosted by Westminster College. The Tigers will face off with Texas A&M-International and Western New Mexico on Friday (Sept. 9) before a pair of contests with Westminster and Minot State on Saturday.
Fort Hays State 3, Texas-Permian Basin 0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-13)
The Tigers started the day a bit sluggish, but the slow start didn’t last long in a dominating sweep over Texas-Permian Basin. FHSU hit at a .351 clip for the match, highlighted by a .440 attack percentage in the third set, while holding the Falcons to a -.022 hitting percentage overall.
UTPB jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first set, prompting head coach Kurt Kohler to call an early timeout. After scoring six of the next eight points, the Tigers tied the score at 13 on a block from Rebekah Spainhour and Callie Christensen, never trailing for the remainder of the set. A five-point run with Kailey Klibbe serving extended the lead to 22-15 before Crystal Whitten ended the set on a kill from Hannah Wagy.
Fort Hays State once again rallied from an early deficit in the second set to win, 25-16. The Falcons scored the first five points of the frame, leading the way until FHSU leveled the score at 13 with a solo block from Christensen. The Tigers scored the final eight points of the set with Klibbe serving with Whitten once again delivering the final kill.
Stellar defense complimented the impressive hitting percentage in the 25-13 third set victory, with Ari Jacobsen and Chandler Hillman making several diving saves and Megan Anderson and Whitten combining for two blocks. The Tigers scored seven-straight points in the heart of the game to extend a 15-5 lead. Consecutive kills from Whitten on sets from Wagy brought the match to a close.
Whitten led the way with 14 kills, adding seven digs and three block assists. Anderson hit .500 for the game, tallying six kills and three total blocks. Spainhour turned in seven kills, three blocks and one service ace while Magan Alexander hit .417 with six kills. Wagy assisted on 33 kills, blocking one attempt and contributing four digs on defense. Hillman led the way with nine digs.
Fort Hays State 3, Oklahoma Panhandle State 0 (25-5, 25-9, 25-11)
The Tigers returned to the court Saturday evening with a bang, storming past Oklahoma Panhandle State in straight sets. The Aggies managed just 25 points in the match, the fewest points allowed in a match since Kurt Kohler took over as head coach in 2009. The Tigers hit a blistering .385 for the match, holding OPSU to a -.179 hitting percentage.
Callie Christensen was a perfect six-for-six on swing attempts while adding five total blocks. Crystal Whitten paced the Tigers with eight kills and nine digs in the match, turning in two service aces. Becca Page recorded a team-best four service aces, the most in a match by a Tiger this season, and tallied 8 assists. Sydney Dixon turned in a .556 hitting percentage after totaling five kills and zero attack errors.
OPSU captured the first point of the match on a kill from Rylee Abert, but the Tigers rebounded to score 11 of the next 12 points to take a commanding 11-2 lead. Christensen led the way in the opening set with three kills in a five-point stretch. Abbie Hayes served the team to a 25-5 victory over the final six points, recording one service ace and forcing numerous Aggie mishits.
The Tigers jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the second set with Whitten serving. Dixon picked up four kills in the set, including back-to-back points to extend the lead to 13-2. Page recorded a pair of service aces down the stretch before an Aggie attack error handed the Tigers a 25-9 victory.
It was more of the same in the third set, with Fort Hays State scoring six of the first seven points. Whitten picked up three quick kills to bring the score to 14-8. Megan Anderson and Makaleigh Yantzie combined for a pair of blocks down the stretch before an Aggie service error brought the match to a close.