BY TRISTAN SASSE
The Fort Hays State volleyball team began their 2017 campaign on Friday, September 1, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota as part of the Country Inn and Suites Invitational. The Tigers season began by playing a total of four games over two days.
Fort Hays started the season with a hard fought match against a tough University of Arkansas Fort-Smith squad. UAFS finished the 2016 season 24-6 overall, including a perfect 14-0 conference record. After many back and forth sets, the Tigers went the distance, but eventually dropped the season opener in five sets (21-25, 25-23, 25-16, 23-25, 18-20).
FHSU was looking for redemption Friday evening against the University of Sioux Falls. Each set was evenly matched, with scoring spurts happening on both sides of the net. FHSU struggled much more offensively in the second match of the day though. The Tigers had led in each set, but USF went on scoring runs every time. Due in large part to multiple 9-2 runs, USF was able to come away with the victory by scores of 21-25, 20-25, and 20-25.
The Tigers resumed play again early Saturday morning, hoping to find their first win of the season. FHSU found themselves facing Black Hills State University, who was also searching for their first victory of the year. BHSU volleyball has struggled often in the past few seasons, but they didn’t show signs of the past on Saturday morning. The Tigers won the first set before dropping the next two. Fort Hays eventually came together, closely winning the final two sets. Overall, the Tigers won the match, 3-2 (25-20, 19-25, 12-25, 25-19, 15-13).
The last game of the weekend also went to five sets. FHSU faced William Jewell College out of Liberty, Missouri. The match was the third time in four games the Tigers went the distance. Fort Hays started Saturday evening in control, winning the first two sets (25-17 and 25-13). William Jewell climbed back in the next two sets, and came out on top in each set (24-26 and 30-32). In the final set, FHSU finally gained total control and dominated throughout, winning 15-4 and ending the first weekend of action at 2-2 on the season.
Next, FHSU will travel to North Canton, Ohio to compete in the Cavalier Classic beginning on Thursday, September 7. The Tigers will face talented teams from New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Fort Hays will play five games in three days during this stretch. They will also have a road trip to Ada and Bethany, Oklahoma before they begin play in Hays, September 22, against MIAA opponent, Emporia State.