By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team came up empty against No. 3 Washburn Friday evening (Sept. 20), falling in three sets (18-25, 24-26, 16-25). After committing at least 14 attack errors in each match over the first two weeks, the Tigers made just nine attack errors in the loss. The Tigers move to 3-6 overall and 0-1 in MIAA play while the Ichabods are now 9-0 on the year and 1-0 in league action.
After dropping the first set, Fort Hays State led for nearly all of the second frame. The Tigers scored the first two points of the match and soon doubled up the Ichabods, 12-6, after a five-point run with Tatum Bartels serving. Washburn later closed within one, but three-straight kills from Mykah Eshbaugh pushed the FHSU advantage back to four, 19-15. The Ichabods continued to chip away at the lead, finally tying things up at 23-23. A kill from Bartels gave the Tigers a chance at set point, but WU rallied to score the final three points and take the set.
The freshman trio of Delaney Humm, Morgan Christiansen and Mykah Eshbaugh had a strong day on offense, combining for 21 kills and just three errors. Katie Darnell handled the setting duties, tossing up 20 assists while adding three kills and eight digs. Senior Abbie Hayes paced the team with 14 digs and tallied the fifth kill of her career.
Washburn posted four more attack errors than FHSU, but a sizeable 49-32 advantage in kills made the biggest difference in the match. The Ichabods also held a big lead in digs, 65-54, assists, 43-25, and aces, 7-2.
The Tigers return to Hays Saturday (Sept. 21) when they host Emporia State. First serve is set for 5 p.m. from Gross Memorial Coliseum.