By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team fell to Nebraska-Kearney Thursday (Nov. 21) in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 MIAA Volleyball Championship, losing 21-25, 17-25, 24-26. The Tigers conclude the season with a record of 12-14, while the Lopers improve to 29-1 and move on to the semifinals to face Northwest Missouri State.
The Tigers stuck with the third-ranked team in the country all evening, totaling just six fewer kills, two fewer blocks and one more service ace.
Fort Hays State took control early, leading by as many as five at four separate junctures in the first set. Several early blocks and three kills from Claire Olson helped the Tigers build an 11-6 lead and maintain that edge until the score was 14-9. UNK then went on an 8-3 run to tie the score at 17 before taking the lead for good at 19-18. The Lopers carried the momentum into the second set, leading wire-to-wire to take the frame 25-17.
The Tigers battled back in the third set, keeping things close the entire way. Fort Hays State led for the majority of the frame and did not trail by more than one point until the final rally of the night. The teams traded one-point leads early in the set before FHSU methodically built a four-point lead. The Tigers led by four as late as 15-11 and later led by three at 19-16, but the Lopers stormed back to tie things up at 19. The teams traded points after the Lopers regained the lead at 23-22 before UNK sealed the deal with back-to-back kills.
Ashlyn Reeves led the Tigers with nine kills and three blocks. Ella Goodwin and Gracie Rains contributed eight kills each, while Grace Schmedding and Carsyn Cormaney totaled six kills apiece. Abrey Galt dished out 28 assist and added six digs, with Kirsten Evansracking up a team-best 20 digs.
The Tigers posted an attack percentage of .202, their best swing rate against the Lopers in over eight years (.235 at UNK, 9/20/2016).
Fort Hays State was playing in the MIAA tournament for the first time since 2021 and for the fifth time since the Tigers joined the league in 2006.