By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team heads into the 2022 season ranked seventh in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, announced Friday (Aug. 18) by the conference office.
Just one week remains before the start of the 2022 season when the Tigers open the year with four non-conference games in Oklahoma City (Aug. 26-27). FHSU will then travel to Denton, Texas the following week (Sept. 2-3) for four more contests before opening league play on September 9 at Washburn. The first of 10 home matches is set for Friday, September 16 when the Tigers battle Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m.
This year’s roster includes 10 returners that helped the Tigers place seventh in the league last fall, reaching the fall MIAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. The Tigers lost only one starter from last season and return three All-MIAA selections in Morgan Christiansen, Claire Olson and Riley Tinder. Head coach Jessica Wood-Atkins added 10 newcomers in 2022, including nine true freshmen and one transfer.
The top four teams in the poll all received at least two first-place votes and were separated by just five points. Northwest Missouri State tops the poll with 90 points, while Nebraska-Kearney, Washburn and Central Missouri are all tied for second with 85 points. The full poll can be found below.
2022 MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1) Northwest Missouri State – 90 Points [3 First-Place Votes] T2) Nebraska-Kearney – 85 Points [3 First-Place Votes] T2) Washburn – 85 Points [3 First-Place Votes] T2) Central Missouri – 85 Points [2 First-Place Votes] 5) Central Oklahoma – 60 Points
6) Pittsburg State – 56 Points
7) Fort Hays State – 44 Points
8) Missouri Western – 43 Points
9) Emporia State – 21 Points
10) Missouri Southern – 20 Points
11) Newman – 16 Points