FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
HAYS, Kan. – After opening the season with two consecutive 4-win weekends, the Fort Hays State University volleyball team will look to extend that streak to three when it travels to Denver, Colo. for four more non-conference matchups this weekend. The Tigers will face off with Central Christian at 9 a.m. before a 3 p.m. contest against Graceland on Friday (Sept. 16). The action continues Saturday (Sept. 17) with an 11 a.m. meeting with Haskell before wrapping up against the tournament host, Johnson & Wales, at 7 p.m. All four of this weekend’s opponents are members of the NAIA.
The 8-0 Tigers are one of 21 remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division II and rank in the top 25 in total blocks (81, sixth), opponent hitting percentage (.106, 16th) and attack percentage (.255, 22nd) nationally. The team is leading the conference with an average of 2.61 blocks per set.
Callie Christensen enters the weekend ranked sixth in the nation and tops in the MIAA with 42 total blocks. In fact, Christensen, Rebekah Spainhour (36) and Megan Anderson (32) rank 1-2-3 in total blocks in the MIAA.
Crystal Whitten leads the team with 3.74 kills per set, second-most in the conference. Senior setter Hannah Wagy, the reigning MIAA Specialist of the Week, is averaging 10.97 assists per set, third-best in the conference and 24th-most in the nation. Rebekah Spainhour leads the way with a hitting percentage of .344, averaging nearly three kills per set. Libero Ari Jacobsen paces the team in a pair of categories, including digs (116) and service aces (10).
Fort Hays State vs. Central Christian • Friday, September 16 • 9 a.m. • First meeting
Denver, Colo. • Wildcat Center
FHSU will face off with Central Christian for the first time in history Friday. The CCC Tigers enter the weekend with a 3-4 record, currently riding a four-game losing skid. Kasi Kraus leads the team with 2.6 kills per set, while Makalyn Tuttle has compiled 26 total blocks. Desiree Padilla paces her squad with 79 digs (4.0 per set) and 10 aces. As a team, CCC is hitting .123 this season while holding opponents to a .136 attack percentage.
Fort Hays State vs. Graceland • Friday, September 16 • 3 p.m. • Graceland leads all-time series, 4-2
Denver, Colo. • Wildcat Center • Live Video • Live Stats
The Yellowjackets have played to an 8-5 record so far in 2016, with all five losses coming in neutral-site contests. The squad opened the season 7-2 before dropping three of four matches at the Baker Invitational last weekend in Baldwin City, Kan. Graceland has compiled a .174 hitting percentage as a team this year, holding opponents to .145 percent. Three Yellowjackets have reached 100 kills this season, with Megan Kneib leading the squad with 128 kills (2.7 per set). Aulora Campbell leads the team in both total blocks (29) and service aces (22). The teams have met six times in history, with GU holding a 4-2 lead in the all-time series. The teams have not played for quite some time, however, with Graceland winning the last match, 3-1, in 1994.
Fort Hays State vs. Haskell • Saturday, September 17 • 11 a.m. • First meeting
Denver, Colo. • Wildcat Center
The Lady Indians roll into Denver on a four-match winning streak after dropping their first five matches of the year. The team has built a .124 attack percentage this season, just above their opponents’ .111 hitting percentage. 2015 second team All-Conference performer Aspen Sheperd leads the team with 90 kills, a .271 attack percentage and 27 total blocks. Randi Romero and Amber Whitehair will split the setting duties, with both averaging nearly 3.5 assists per set.
Fort Hays State at Johnson & Wales • Saturday, September 17 • 7 p.m. • FHSU leads all-time series, 3-0
Denver, Colo. • Wildcat Center
The Wildcats enter this weekend with an 8-10 record to date, winning four of their last five matches. JWU is hitting at a .181 clip this season, averaging 1.27 blocks and 16.66 digs per set. Senior Kelley McLain leads the team with 212 kills (3.31 per set). Junior Katie Malachinski has picked up 46 total blocks on the year, while fellow junior Emily Gazaway averages 5.16 assists per set. The Tigers have won all three matchups between the schools, including a pair of three-set victories in this same tournament last season.
*Note: All times listed are CDT, though the team will be playing in the Mountain Time Zone*