By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team fell in three sets against No. 15 Washburn Saturday afternoon (Sept. 16) on the road, 17-25, 12-25, 20-25. The Tigers are now 6-5 overall and 0-2 in league action, while the Ichabods are 8-1 on the year and 2-0 in MIAA play.
The Tigers won the defensive battle at the net, recording nine team blocks compared to eight for the Ichabods. Ashlyn Reeves led FHSU with five block assists, while Emily Ellis added four and Caiya Stucky and Claire Olson picked up three blocks each. Stucky also tossed up 22 assists to lead the team.
Gracie Rains paced the team with eight kills, with Ellis and Riley Tinder recording six kills each. Kirsten Evans led the way with 10 digs.
The Tigers scored seven of the first 10 points in the second set to lead 7-3 before Washburn fought back to win the set, 25-12. Kills from Reeves and Ellis and a combo block from Ellis and Tinder helped FHSU close within 20-18 late in the third set, but one final Ichabod run brought the match to a close.
Fort Hays State will return to Hays next weekend when the Tigers host No. 25 Central Oklahoma on Friday (Sept. 22, 6 p.m.) and Pittsburg State on Saturday (Sept. 23, 2 p.m.).
Friday
EMPORIA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team dropped its conference opener Friday (Sept. 15), falling to Emporia State in three sets, 23-25, 19-25, 19-25. The Tigers move to 6-4 on the season and 0-1 in MIAA play, while the Hornets are now 7-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
The first set was a back-and-forth battle, with neither side leading by more than three points. The opening frame included 13 ties and five lead changes. Both teams performed well offensively, with each side recording attack percentages better than .340 and neither team committing more than five attack errors. The Tigers led as late as 23-22, but three consecutive Hornet kills gave the home team the victory.
The Hornets pulled away early in the second set, leading by as many as five midway through the frame, 15-10. The Tigers battled back within two thanks to a 7-4 run that included kills from four different Tigers, but Emporia State responded by scoring six of the final eight points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Fort Hays State grabbed an early lead in the third set, leading 4-0 and later 14-11 before the Hornets scored five of the next six to take the lead for good.
The Hornets posted an attack percentage of .333 (47-13-102) while holding FHSU to a swing rate of .208 (40-18-106). Riley Tinder led the team with 12 kills, while Emily Ellis and Claire Olson both recorded two blocks. Brooke Hyland racked up a team-best 12 digs, with Caiya Stuckydistributing 32 assists on the night.