By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team dropped a three-set match Saturday afternoon (Nov. 4) against Northwest Missouri State, 25-18, 25-15, 25-14. The Tigers (11-16, 5-13 MIAA) managed an attack percentage of .200 (32-10-110), recording 10 or fewer errors for the second time this season, while NWMSU (15-11, 10-8 MIAA) posted a swing rate of .459 (58-8-109).
The Bearcats scored five in a row to take control early in the first set, but the Tigers soon bounced back to close within one, 11-10. Northwest regained the momentum, going on to take the frame 25-18. The Bearcats never trailed in the second set, recording just one attack error to win 25-15. Fort Hays State led by as many as three early in the third set following a successful challenge, 8-5, before the Bearcats scored seven of the next eight points to go on top for good.
Riley Tinder led the Tigers with eight kills while adding seven digs and one block on defense. Claire Olson had seven kills, while Ashlyn Reeves totaled four kills and a team-high two blocks. Caiya Stucky dished out 29 assists, with Brooke Hyland leading the way with 13 digs.
The Tigers will wrap up the regular season with two more road matches next weekend, beginning with a Thursday night contest at Missouri Southern (Nov. 9, 6 p.m.)
Friday
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team saw its winning streak come to an end Friday evening (Nov. 3), with the Tigers falling to Missouri Western in four sets, 21-25, 26-24, 13-25, 23-25. Fort Hays State (11-15, 5-12 MIAA) rallied from a first-set defeat to take the second frame, but the Griffons (19-7, 12-5) took control the rest of the way.
Missouri Western built a seven-point lead early in the first set, 13-6, before the Tigers went on a 10-3 run to tie things up at 16. FHSU eventually took the lead at 18-17 and led as late as 20-19, but MWSU recovered to score six of the final seven points to secure a 25-21 win.
The Griffons led by four midway through the second set before the Tigers rallied to jump in front, with FHSU scoring five in a row to go up 21-19. FHSU later led by three, 23-20, before the home team scored four in a row to reach set point. A serve into the net returned the ball to the Tigers, who scored the next two points including a combo block from Taylor Hawkins and Emily Ellis to level the match at one set each.
The teams traded points early in the third set before Missouri Western pulled away with a big run, turning an 11-9 lead into a 25-13 win thanks to a 14-4 run. The Griffons led by five early in the fourth set before the Tigers fought back to take the lead at 15-14. The lead was short-lived, however, with MWSU going back on top for good at 18-17. FHSU scored one point down 24-22 to prolong the match, but a block on the final point sealed the win for the Griffons.
Claire Olson led the Tigers with 13 kills and six blocks (one solo), while Ashlyn Reeves had nine kills and also totaled six blocks. Riley Tinder and Hawkins each added nine kills. Brooke Hyland recorded 21 digs and Caiya Stucky distributed 39 assists in the match.