By MAYAN PAZ Photos by ELLIE HEDMAN
Tiger Media Network
FHSU volleyball reached the final week of the MIAA regular season on the verge of qualifying for the MIAA postseason tournament, needing at least one win out of their two final games against Missouri Western State or Northwest Missouri State to secure a spot in this week’s tournament.
Number 13 Grace Schmedding and number 7 Ashlyn Reeves work together to block the ball at the net. 
Number 13 Grace Schmedding getting ready to serve the ball. 
Number 1 Carsyn Cormaney and number Ella Goodwin work together to block the ball. 
Number 3 Ella Goodwin celebrating after a good hit. 
The Tigers cheer on Ella Goodwin after a good hit over the net. 
The Tigers take a timeout. 
Number 13 Grace Schmedding and her teammates celebrate after a good play. 
Number 4 Caiya Stucky Reyes hits the ball over the net. 
The Tigers waiting for the ball to be served. 
Number 22 Kirsten Evans waiting to make a play. 
The Tigers celebrate with number 4 Caiya Stucky Reyes after making the winning point. 
Final team huddle after a good win. 
Tiger seniors and coaches. 
2025 Tiger seniors. 
2025 Tiger seniors.
FHSU dropped Thursday night’s contest to No. 16 MWSU in straight sets. Facing pressure to win on Friday and additional nerves from Friday’s senior night celebration, Northwest took the first set 25-14 against FHSU; however, the Tigers rattled off three straight set victories, punching their ticket to the MIAA Tournament.
“I think we were all very amped up with senior night; everyone was just very jittery,” sophomore outside hitter Grace Schmedding said. “And then the second set, we all just calmed down and realized that we have nothing to lose.”
FHSU committed 11 errors in the first set, but settled down and evened the match behind the play of senior outside hitter Gracie Rains in set two. Rains only managed 2 kills in the first set, but became more involved on her way to a team-high 14 kills. Schmedding added 13 kills and 21 digs to lead the Tiger comeback victory.
FHSU Head Coach Jessica Wood-Atkins said nerves played a part in the game early on.
“The nerves were up in that first set. But then I think they recognized right away that they could control that, and they locked in like they normally do, and they played their game after the first set,” Wood-Atkins said.
Not only was it a big night for the Tigers in terms of postseason implications, but they also bid farewell to five seniors who have been significant to the program throughout the last four years. Rains, Abrey Galt, Caiya Stucky Reyes, Kirsten Evans, and graduate assistant coach Tallon Rentschler were all honored.
Schmedding spoke about the mentoring those seniors provided her when she joined the Tigers last year.
“We definitely have some big shoes to fill. When I was a freshman, they mentored me a lot, especially to the role that I played last year,” Schmedding said. “They definitely helped me grow as an athlete, as a person and everything. It was great, and it’s going to be hard to see them go.”
Wood-Atkins also spoke fondly about the seniors right after the game.
“These girls have been through a lot throughout their careers, and all of the hardships have matured them and made them stronger, and I think that their strength really shines,” she said. “I’m very proud of them.”
FHSU will play No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney at 5 p.m. on Thursday in the MIAA Tournament. The tournament is being played in St. Joseph, Missouri.