FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
HAYS, Kan. – In its first contest inside Gross Memorial Coliseum this season, the Fort Hays State University volleyball team returned to the win column Friday evening (Sept. 23) against Emporia State in front of 300 fans. The Tigers move to 13-1 overall and even out their conference record at 1-1 with the win, while the Hornets fall to 7-7 and 0-2 in conference play.
The Tigers compiled a .288 attack percentage in the match, highlighted by a .429 effort in the third set. FHSU held the Hornets to a .087 hitting percentage while tallying a season-high 15 blocks. The win gives Fort Hays State a two-game winning streak over Emporia State for the first time since 2003.
Kurt Kohler’s squad started off strong, taking the opening set 25-18. Crystal Whitten opened the set with a powerful kill, one of six in the set, before adding a service ace to give the Tigers two quick points. The sides swapped points early in match, with the Tigers never trailing by more than one. FHSU put the set out of reach with Hannah Wagy serving the team to six-straight points. Kylie Rollman recorded back-to-back kills before Rebekah Spainhour extended the Tiger lead to 21-15. A kill from Whitten ended the set like it started, this time on a pass from libero Ari Jacobsen.
The Hornets battled back to take the second set, leveling the score at one as the teams headed for the locker room. Spainhour picked up two solo blocks in the frame, helping the Tigers to six total blocks in the set. The Tigers jumped out to an 11-7 lead before the Hornets rattled off six-straight points to grab the lead. The Hornets earned a set point with a kill from Josie Williams, but Callie Chirstensen kept the team alive with a kill to level things at 24. Two Hornet kills handed ESU the 26-24 win.
Fort Hays State came out of the locker room on fire in the third set, coasting to a 25-13 victory while holding the Hornets to a -.054 attack percentage. The Tigers added six more blocks in the set, including three from Christensen. FHSU never trailed in the frame, extending a 11-5 lead with Spainhour serving. The home team scored 12 of the next 17 points to put the set on ice. Whitten again sealed the victory with a kill from Wagy.
The sides battled through the fourth set with the momentum shifting quickly after each team posted five-point rallies. Spainhour recorded a service ace to bring the Tigers within two points of victory, but the Hornets tallied three-straight to extend the match. An ESU error after a kill from Whitten brought the match to a close.
Whitten led the team with 18 kills, recording her seventh double-double this season after adding 10 digs. Christensen, the MIAA leader in blocks, recorded a game-high seven blocks (one solo) with Spainhour adding five (two solo). Wagy tossed up 47 assists, adding 12 digs and three total blocks (two solo). Christensen recorded a .526 attack percentage, posting 11 kills to just one error.
No Hornets reached double digits in kills, with Julia Joseph and Tatum Graves leading the team with eight each. Libero Kelly Holden recorded a game-high 19 digs, adding two service aces.
The Tigers will return to the floor against No. 18-ranked Washburn Saturday afternoon starting at 2 p.m.