FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
HAYS, Kan. – Revenge will be on the mind of the Fort Hays State volleyball team when No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Kearney comes to town Tuesday evening (Oct. 4). The conference match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. After winning a pair of MIAA matches last weekend FHSU carries a 15-3 record into the contest with a 3-2 mark in league play, while the Lopers are a perfect 19-0 overall and 5-0 in the conference.
The Tigers took the opening set against UNK in their meeting two weeks ago in Kearney, but the Lopers rallied to take a four-set victory. It was one of just three sets the Lopers have dropped through 19 matches this season.
The Lopers hold an 88-9 advantage in the all-time series and have won 22 straight dating back to 2003.
The Tigers rank second amongst NCAA Division II teams with 168 total blocks through 18 matches, averaging 2.55 per set (third nationally). The Black and Gold also rank in the top three in the nation in total kills (896) and assists (845). Fort Hays State has accumulated a .236 attack percentage to date, holding its opponents to a .124 hitting percentage.
A trio of Tigers find themselves atop the conference statistical standings. Senior Crystal Whitten leads the conference with an average of 3.98 kills per set, totaling 255 kills so far in 2016. The outside hitter has also recorded 10 double-doubles this season. Fellow senior Hannah Wagy ranks first in assists per set (11.44) and total assists (709), ranking second in the nation in total assists. Middle hitter Callie Christensen leads the league with 83 total blocks and 1.28 blocks per set, currently sitting in fourth nationally in total blocks.
The Tigers swept the MIAA weekly honors this week with Wagy being named Specialist of the Week for the second time this season for her performance last week. She was joined by Rebekah Spainhour, who earned Hitter of the Week accolades for the first time in her career. The senior middle hitter leads the team with a .360 attack percentage.
The Lopers hold the second-best attack percentage in the nation, hitting at a .327 clip this season. In addition, they are holding their opponents to a minuscule .063 attack percentage, best in Division II.
Nebraska-Kearney’s powerful offense boasts four players averaging at least 2.5 kills per set, led by Kaitlynn Thomas’ 3.23 kills per frame. Junior middle blocker Tara Ziegelbein leads the nation amongst qualified student-athletes with a .478 hitting percentage, averaging 2.5 kills per set while picking up 53 total blocks so far in 2016. Senior Annie Wolfe hits at a .426 clip while contributing 2.95 kills per set for the Lopers. Lindsey Smith orchestrates the offense from the setter position, dishing out an average of 11.1 assists per set.