STORY BY CORA TASSET
PHOTOS BY MICAH REINKE
The Fort Hays State Tiger volleyball team (6-14) played the third-ranked Washburn Ichabods (18-2) on Tuesday night). The Tigers lost (0-3) to the Ichabods, but never gave up their battle.
“Washburn is ranked third in the nation, and it’s pretty evident. I was actually pretty proud for the most part,” Tigers head coach Jessica Wood-Atkins said. “We had our moments where we stopped playing, and with a team like that they will just run it down your throat. But when we played, we played hard and we competed well.”
The Tigers were down in the first set, but fought back up to tie up the set at 24-24. FHSU could not hold the Ichabods off and lost the game 27-25. In the second set the Tigers fell behind again and lost to Washburn 25-19.
“We made some pretty critical adjustments which is a good show of what we can do against other teams,” Wood-Atkins said.
In the third and final set the Tigers were down 14-0; the team would not let the Ichabods win without a fight and moved the score to 14-23.
“There’s no strategic adjustment that we could make other than, you have got to get out there and you have to be tougher and do your job,” Coach Wood-Atkins said.
Both teams fought hard, but Washburn won 25-16.
Senior Libero Abby Hayes (43) mentioned at the beginning of the season that she is striving to make 1000 career digs by the end of her volleyball career.
“Last time I checked I had 42 left, and I am not sure how many I got this game, but I am getting there,” Hayes said.
Hayes made 11 more digs this evening; she only has 31 more digs to reach her goal. She is definitely a leader on the court and many of her young teammates look up to her, and go to Hayes when they are down on the court.
“That makes me feel good, especially when it is coming from my own teammates,” said Hayes. “We’re a pretty close team and I really like my teammates this year; we are like a family and we all really support each other.”
The Fort Hays State Tigers will be on the road to Newman University on Friday, October 25. The first serve will be at 6 p.m.