By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to hand Central Missouri just its second conference loss of the season Saturday evening (Oct. 14), winning 17-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-20, 15-11. It was the first win for the Tigers against UCM in seven years (9/30/2016).
Fort Hays State (8-12, 2-9 MIAA) took control at the net, matching its season-best total with 17 blocks, which is the most by an MIAA program in a match this season. The Tiger defense limited the Jennies (12-7, 9-2 MIAA) to an attack percentage of .117 (66-42-206), a full 90 points lower than their season average of .207. FHSU managed an attack rate of .162 (56-26-185), including swing rates of .242, .190 and .318 over the final three sets.
After recording eight attack errors in the opening frame and nine more in the second set, FHSU recorded just nine miscues over the remaining three stanzas. Gracie Rainspaced the Tigers with 17 kills and added three blocks, while Riley Tinder recorded her second-consecutive double-double with 16 kills and 21 digs. Emily Elliscontributed 17 points, including 11 kills, nine blocks (one solo) and one service ace. Caiya Stucky distributed 46 assists while adding 10 digs and five blocks on defense. Brooke Hyland led the team with 22 digs.
The first set was back-and-forth early before a seven-point Jennie run followed a 13-13 tie, leading to a 25-17 victory. The second set was close throughout the duration of the frame, with neither side leading by more than two points. Fort Hays State led as late as 20-19 before a three-point Jennie run turned things around. A pair of UCM miscues helped the Tigers fend of a pair of set point opportunities and tie the score at 24 before the Jennies battled back to take the next two points and win, 26-24.
Holding a two-set lead, UCM took the first three points of the third set to take control. But FHSU bounced right back, scoring the next four to take back the lead thanks to a trio of Tiger blocks. The teams traded points for the next stretch before a 5-1 Tiger run turned a 17-17 tie into a 22-18 lead. Two kills from Rains helped the Tigers reach set point before a Jennie error handed FHSU a 25-21 win.
After racking up seven blocks in the third set, Fort Hays State added four more in the fourth to force a deciding fifth set. UCM scored the first four points to jump in front before the Tigers punched back with a 9-1 run, taking a 9-5 lead. The Jennies bounced back to level the score at 11, but a five-point Tiger run later gave FHSU the lead for good, 18-13. Stucky and Ashlyn Reeves combined for a block to reach set point before Reeves and Claire Olsonteamed up for the set-winning block, giving FHSU a 25-20 win.
The teams traded points early in the final set before FHSU scored three in a row to take an 8-5 lead thanks to back-to-back kills from Ellis. UCM responded with the next three points to again tie things up, but kills from Reeves and Tinder helped the Tigers take the lead for good. Reeves and Olson later teamed up for another block before Rains brought the match to a close with her 17th and final kill of the evening.
Fort Hays State will wrap up a six-match homestand Tuesday (Oct. 17) when the Tigers host Emporia State beginning at 6 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Friday
The Fort Hays State volleyball team came up just short in a narrow five-set defeat Friday evening (Oct. 13) against Missouri Southern, 25-18, 29-31, 25-21, 23-25, 15-11. The Tigers (7-12, 1-9 MIAA) managed two more kills than the Lions (12-7, 5-5 MIAA), 60-58, but an 11-4 edge in service aces and nine fewer errors (40-31) allowed the visitors to leave town with the win.
The Tigers led 13-9 midway through the first set before Missouri Southern rallied to take 16 of the next 21 points to win the set, 25-18. After totaling nine kills in the first frame, Fort Hays State bounced back with 19 in the second.
Missouri Southern led by as many as six in the second set, 11-5, and later led 20-16 before the Tigers came storming back with a four-point run to tie the score. The teams traded points until FHSU took its first lead of the set at 26-25 on back-to-back kills from Riley Tinder. The Tigers were unable to capitalize on a pair of set-point opportunities, allowing MSSU to go back on top and have their own chance at the set, 29-28. Gracie Rains would not allow that to happen, however, with the sophomore rattling off three consecutive kills to level the match, 1-1.
The Lions again pulled away early in set three, leading 17-7 and again by 10 at 19-9. Fort Hays State sprinted back into the mix with five consecutive points, closing within 20-17 and later as close as 22-21 thanks to back-to-back attack errors. But Missouri Southern was finally able to fight off the Tiger threat, scoring the next three to close out the set, 25-21.
Fort Hays State took a turn at jumping out in front in set four, taking eight of the first 12 rallies to lead by four, 8-4. MSSU closed within two before a 6-2 run aided by multiple Emily Ellis kills gave the Tigers a six-point edge, 19-13. The Lions managed to close within one late in the set, but a fourth kill in the set from Ellis gave the Tigers the 25-23 win and sent things to a fifth and final set.
Both teams were efficient on offense in the final set, combining for just three errors. The Tigers took an early three-point lead and again led by three when the teams swapped sides, 8-5. But the Lions roared back after that point, taking 10 of the final 13 rallies to seal the set, 15-11, and secure the match.
Tinder recorded a double-double, totaling 11 kills and 20 digs to match Brooke Hyland for the team lead in digs. Rains paced the team with 21 kills while adding four block assists. Ashlyn Reeves compiled six blocks in the match, including two solo swats. Caiya Stucky distributed 49 assists on the night, adding 12 digs, two blocks and one kill. Tinder and Kirsten Evans each recorded two service aces.
Fort Hays State finished the night with an attack percentage of .095 (60-40-210) compared to a swing rate of .132 (58-31-204) from the Lions.