Tigers go 4-0 at home during weekend

By CAYDEN SANDERS

Tiger Media Network

The Fort Hays State University volleyball team came into the weekend off a Colorado road trip where it went 1-3. Home proved to be a much better setting for the Tigers as they went a perfect 4-0 during the weekend against Cameron, Minnesota State, New Mexico Highlands and Southern Nazarene. 

“It was good to be back home this week,” said head coach Jessica Wood-Atkins. “I think the girls really needed it. We have worked really hard, and it’s good to show up for our fans who came out this weekend.

“That trip to Colorado was, yes, about team bonding and getting better as a team off the court, but it was also tougher teams to shape us up for the conference schedule to help us push through tougher times.”

Fort Hays started the tournament with New Mexico Highlands on Friday afternoon. In that match, the Tigers started with two straight wins before closing out the match 3-1. 

The Tigers followed that up with a 3-0 victory over Southern Nazarene. 

On Saturday, FHSU snagged a pair of 3-1 victories against Minnesota State and Cameron. 

Brooke Hyland has amassed a team-high 150 digs this season as the team’s libero, and Riley Tinder is second with 101. 

Another Tiger that stood out for Wood-Atkins was Caiya Stucky. She finished with 13 blocks, 27 digs, three aces and seven kills for the weekend.

Ashlyn Reeves continued her solid play during the home weekend. She has 45 kills — third on the team — and 27 total blocks. Gracie Rains leads FHSU with 100 kills, followed by Emily Ellis with 73.

FHSU enters MIAA play on a five-match win streak. The Tigers travel to play Emporia State at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a 6 p.m. match Saturday at No. 17 Washburn.

“We have to switch gears here soon with the MIAA next,” Wood-Atkins said. “Usually in tournaments, you are playing four teams in two days, but with the conference schedule you are only preparing for two teams for a week.”