By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State fell to No. 9 ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday evening (Sept. 26) in straight sets. The Lopers won sets by scores of 25-18, 25-15, and 25-14, improving to 14-1 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA. The Tigers moved to 6-8 overall and 0-5 in the MIAA.
FHSU held a couple leads of three points early in the first set, but saw the Lopers race past with a 7-0 run in the middle of the set taking a 16-9 advantage. The Lopers led by as many as nine on their way to the seven-point first set win. The Lopers held a 15-12 advantage in kills for the frame. Gracie Rains led the Tigers with four kills in the set.
The Tigers held with the Lopers in the second set until a 4-0 burst gave the Lopers a 16-12 lead. The Lopers inched their way further ahead and closed the set on a 5-0 run to win by 10. The Tigers held an 11-10 advantage in kills for the set, but saw the Lopers hold a .233 to .051 advantage in hitting percentage. The Lopers never trailed in the third set and hit .522, upping their overall hitting percentage to .312 for the match.
Rains finished with a team-high 10 kills and .350 hitting percentage for the match for FHSU. Emily Ellis finished with eight kills, followed by Claire Olson with six. Kirsten Evans led the Tigers with 16 assists, followed by Caiya Stucky with 14. Brooke Hyland and Andressa Ribeiro Soares each had 11 digs.
Mia Berg led a balanced Loper attack with 10 kills, followed by Jaden Ferguson and Emersen Cyza each with nine. Peyton Neff had 35 assists and a team-high six blocks. Lauren Taubenheim led the Lopers with nine digs.
The Tigers continue a week of road matches with their first meeting of the season with Newman University on Friday evening in Wichita.