Coming off a four-set loss to Missouri Western Friday night, FHSU volleyball was looking for a split against UCM on Saturday. However, the talented Jennies squad proved too much for FHSU, sweeping the match 3-0.
FHSU (10-14) kept the first set close and trailed 16-13 before UCM went on a 9-1 run to put the first match away 25-14. The Jennies (16-8) did fall behind FHSU early in the second set 7-3 and still trailed at the 11-8 mark before pulling even with 11 points apiece. UCM then took the lead and created another deficit the Tigers could not climb out of as the Jennies won the set 25-18.
“We had to change our strategy coming out of the timeout in the second and I thought the girls did well to respond with what we could being without our starting Libero [Jaden Daffer],” FHSU Head Coach Jessica Wood-Adkins said.
The Tigers tried to change their confidence going into the third set but were unsuccessful as they started the third and final set down 14-5. FHSU went on a four-point spurt, but it was not enough as the Jennies pilled on another huge lead that the Tigers could not overcome.
“We are going to need to switch it up, do something that makes matches challenging for our opponents going forward,” Wood-Adkins said. “We just need to have everyone step up when we know who they are going to target coming into a match.”
The Tigers will be back in action at home Tuesday against the league-leading and #6 ranked nationally UNK Lopers. The match will begin at 6:00 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Brooke Hyland dives for a ball during Saturday night’s match against the University of Central Missouri Jennies.Jaida Felix leaps to set the ball to Claire Olson. The ball is passed right on top of the net during the game. Both tigers, Emily Ellis and Gracie Rains, fight to push the ball over the midline against the Jennies middle.Ellis celebrates her third consecutive block during the third set against Central Missouri.Kirsten Evans launches to save a ball. Jaden Daffer, the team’s libero, was sick and unable to play during last night’s matchup. “We had a new libero who normally doesn’t play in that position and she did really well tonight,” said Evans. “This moved me over to right back and gave me the chance to set, which is exciting because I used to set in high school. I’ve loved playing defensive specialist here at FHSU.”
Olson spikes the ball past defenders.
The Tiger volleyball players get hype as they celebrate another block during the game.
Olson and Ellis team up for a block. Ellis catches the ball with her fingers, getting a touch that slows down the ball and allows teammates time to get under the ball to make a pass.
Riley Tinder sports the libero jersey tonight, filling in Daffer’s position for the game. Here the team huddles as the refs discuss a play and what call should be made. Tinder, a team captain, awaits their decision.Head coach, Jessica Wood-Atkins, coaches the girls in a huddle during a time-out.Caiya Stucky eyes the ball as she goes in for a tip.Rains pushes the ball over defenders and into a space that throws the defense off.The Jennies rally a fast ball over to the Tigers. Mykah Eshbaugh scrambles for a quick block.
Morgan Christiansen goes in for a kill.
Olson high fives the Central Missouri team as the Tigers face a tough loss. “Hopefully in the next game, we’ll have Daffer back,” said Eshbaugh. “We want to continue working on shot collections and adding more tools to our belt. We’ve been communicating well. Combining that with the skills we’ve been working on will be key the rest of this season.”
