FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
HAYS, Kan. – After a 1-2 start to MIAA play last week, the Fort Hays State University volleyball team will take a short break from conference action to play Colorado Christian Tuesday evening (Sept. 27) in Lakewood, Colo. The Tigers have played to a 13-2 record this season, while the Cougars come in with an 8-5 mark.
This will be the first meeting between the schools since 2006, a four-set victory for the Cougars in St. Joseph, Mo. CCU holds a 17-13 edge in the all-time series. The Tigers are 4-0 in the state of Colorado this season after going undefeated at the Johnson & Wales tournament in Denver earlier this month. The teams are 2-0 against common opponents this year (Westminster and Texas-Permian Basin).
Tickets will be available at the door of the CCU Event Center at a price of $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
The Tigers rank second in NCAA Division II and tops in the conference in team kills (753), assists (715) and total blocks (142). Junior Callie Christensen also ranks second in the nation and first in the MIAA with 73 total blocks. Senior Crystal Whitten leads the team with 3.96 kills per set, second in the conference. Hannah Wagy’s 11.5 assists per set lead the conference and rank in the top-10 nationally. Rebekah Spainhour owns a .352 attack percentage on the year, sixth-best in the conference.
The Cougars have gathered a .203 hitting percentage so far in 2016, holding their opponents to a .164 clip. CCU sports two individuals with attack percentages north of .300 in Hope Baldrica (.306) and Sophia Proano (.301), with Proano leading the team with 3.75 kills per set. Kylee Wurster averages 10.56 assists per set as the primary setter.
The Black and Gold will return home for two more conference matches this weekend, opening with a Friday night contest against No. 6 Central Missouri before a Saturday date with Lindenwood.