By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State volleyball team picked up a win in its 2023 home opener Wednesday (Sept. 6), defeating Kansas Wesleyan in five sets, 24-26, 27-29, 25-20, 25-16, 15-11. The Tigers tallied 17 blocks and 13 service aces in the win, both the most by an MIAA program in a match so far this season. The Tigers improved to 2-3 on the year, while the Coyotes dipped to 6-6 overall.
Neither side could find much separation in a first set that featured 12 ties and nine lead changes, with the score margin staying at or below three the entire way. The Tigers trailed 10-7 midway through the frame before an 8-2 run gave FHSU a three-point lead of its own. Riley Tinder and Gracie Rains both contributed multiple kills to the rally before finishing the set with six kills each. A Brooke Hylandace pushed the lead to three before KWU battled back to score five in a row to regain the lead. The Tigers led as late as 23-21 before the Coyotes captured five of the final six points to take the set, 26-24.
The Tigers fell behind early in the second set, but quickly responded to tie things up at nine. FHSU broke open a 12-12 tie with a 6-1 run to take a five-point lead, 18-13, but Kansas Wesleyan clawed back to eventually tie the score at 23. The Tigers had three chances at set point down the stretch, but were unable to capitalize. The Coyotes finished off the 29-27 win by scoring four of the final five points, giving them a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Fort Hays State took control in the third set and didn’t relent the rest of the evening. The Coyotes led early in the third, 3-2, which would prove to be their final lead of the evening. The Tigers led for good in the third after an 8-8 tie, going in front by as many as six at 20-14. The visitors made things interesting, closing within two down the stretch, 22-20, before a kill from Emily Ellis and back-to-back blocks from Ellis and Caiya Stucky and Ellis and Tinder gave the Tigers a 25-20 win.
The Tiger defense kept the pressure on in the fourth set, limiting the Coyotes to a -.050 attack percentage in the fourth after holding them to a -.049 swing rate in the third. FHSU picked up six blocks in the third set and added four more in the fourth to win in dominant fashion, 25-16.
Four service aces helped the Tigers take control in the fifth set, including two from Hyland and one each from Stucky and Tinder. Taylor Hawkins also came in to provide three kills on three attempts in the final set, helping FHSU to a 15-11 match-clinching victory.
Rains led the team with 15 kills and added four blocks, while Ellis posted 12 kills and nine blocks (one solo). Ashlyn Reeves picked up 10 kills and eight digs while leading the team with an attack percentage of .304. Tinder posted a double-double with 12 kills, 18 digs, two blocks, two assist and one service ace. Stucky distributed 54 assists on the night and added four kills, three blocks and two aces. Kirsten Evans racked up five service aces, with Hyland chipping in four aces and a team-high 24 digs.
The Tigers posted an attack percentage of .168 for the match while limiting KWU to a swing rate of .083.
Fort Hays State will next host the 2023 Tiger Classic this weekend (Sept. 8-9) with 10 games inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, five each on Friday and Saturday. The Tigers are slated to play New Mexico Highlands (noon) and Southern Nazarene (6 p.m.) on Friday and Minnesota State (2 p.m.) and Cameron (6 p.m.) on Saturday. Action in neutral site matches will begin at 10 a.m. each day.