By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State volleyball team stuck with 11th-ranked Washburn for much of the evening Friday (Oct. 19), but the Ichabods found a way to pull away to win in straight sets, 25-17, 25-19, 25-16. The Tigers dip to 8-17 on the year and 2-10 in MIAA play, while the Ichabods are now 23-1 overall and 11-1 in league action.
The Tigers fought tooth and nail with a high-powered Ichabod squad early on, splitting the first 32 rallies right down the middle, 16-16. Fort Hays State led by as many as two early on after a block from Azlyn Cassaday and Tatum Bartels, but the Ichabods soon clawed in front by four, 16-12. Two kills from Morgan West bookended a Bartels service ace, helping the Tigers close within one. A Washburn error on the following serve tied things up at 16 before the visitors went on a 9-1 run, closing out the set, 25-17.
Fort Hays State again jumped out to an early lead in the second set, going in front by two after a kill from Cassaday, 4-2. The Tigers tied the score as late as 6-6 before the Ichabods started to pull away. Trailing by eight, 18-10, FHSU put together a four-point rally to trim the deficit in half, but the Ichabods thwarted the run before the Tigers could tie things up. Washburn then scored seven of the first nine points out of the locker room in the third set, swinging an efficient .370 to close out the match.
Isabelle Reynolds led the match with 11 kills, while Bre Becker tossed up a team-high 25 assists to go along with eight digs. Taylor White led the Tigers with 10 digs.
Fort Hays State posted a hitting percentage of .099 on the night, while the Ichabods countered with a .296 swing rate. Both sides found success behind the service line, with the teams combining for nine service aces (WU 5, FHSU 4).
The Tigers will return to action Saturday when they host Emporia State at 3 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.