By MAYAN PAZ
Tiger Media Network
The final two games of the MIAA volleyball regular season are here, and Fort Hays is in the race for an MIAA Tournament berth. The Tigers (15-11, 4-10) will host conference leader No. 16 Missouri Western (20-5, 12-2) on Thursday and then will wrap the regular season on Friday against Northwest Missouri State (9-14, 3-11), who is a direct opponent for the No. 8 qualifying spot.
FHSU currently sits alone in the No. 8 spot, one game behind Pittsburg State and one game ahead of NWMSU, Arkansas-Fort Smith and Missouri Southern. While the Tigers ideally want to put their fate in their own hands, they know they will have to keep a close eye on other conference games tonight.
Head Coach Jessica Wood-Atkins said they will try to balance the stress of what is going on elsewhere with the effort to focus on their own performance this weekend.
“I think we’re definitely paying attention on Thursday night. I think Thursday night is going to be a pretty big tell for us on how things are landing,” Wood-Atkins said. “But as we talk to the girls, what we’re trying to do is just go and score as many points as we can and keep that as our focus.”
If the Tigers win both games this weekend, they will qualify; if they lose both games, there is only a slight chance of qualifying. A scenario of one win for the Tigers will most likely result in qualification, but they will hope for a Missouri Southern loss against Pitt State on Thursday to boost their chances.
A significant challenge awaits the Tigers in their crucial game against Missouri Western. Playing against nationally ranked teams so far this season, the Tigers have been able to compete well for one or two sets, but not for a full game. Libero Kirsten Evans said the team is trying to figure out what they can do to stay in those close games longer.
“I think we just really need to be focusing on not just one set, focusing on multiple sets after we play good the first set,” Evans said. “We normally play good the first set, and we just need to continue to play that well and continue to fight, not just think that we have it already, we kind of have to continue to play the rest of the sets.”
FHSU’s game against Northwest Missouri State will be a direct competition for the final postseason spot. This will be a must-win game for the Tigers, especially if they lose against Missouri Western.
Wood-Atkins said she is confident her players will be up to the task.
“I have a lot of confidence in our girls. And I think one of the things I have confidence in is our seniors. Our seniors know how to compete, and I think that when they are in that mindset, everybody follows,” she said. “And so, with it being our last home stand, I expect it to be an all-out game. I have a lot of confidence that we’re going to play hard and play well.”
FHSU and Missouri Western play at 6 p.m. tonight, while the Tigers and Bearcats will square off at 6 p.m. tomorrow. Both games will be in Gross Memorial Coliseum.