Story by ALAYNA CARSON Photos by ELLIE HEDMAN, TANNER MAWHIRTER, EDEN STAPLES, and RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
Fort Hays State volleyball opened its 2026 season with a 4-0 record at the Tiger Classic, winning two straight-set matches and overcoming one early deficit to finish the tournament undefeated at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Tigers defeated Truman State 3-1, Regis 3-0, Midwestern State 3-0 and Eastern New Mexico 3-1. FHSU only dropped two sets during the four-match tournament.
FHSU entered the tournament after finishing 16-13 in 2025 and reaching the MIAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. The Tiger Classic also marked the first matches for first-year head coach Garcia Ramser.
The Tigers opened the tournament Thursday against Truman State and had to respond after TSU took a 21-20 lead late in the set and held on for the opening-set victory.
The Tigers gather to pump each other up. 
Number 4 Peyton Bergschneider and Ashlyn Reeves (#7) work together to block the ball at the net. 
Carsyn Cormaney (#1) hits the ball over the net. 
FHSU warming up before their season opener 
FHSU warming up before their season opener 
FHSU runs onto the floor before the match. Pictured #2 Regan Widener and #13 Sophie Sander. 
FHSU runs onto the floor before the match. Pictured #12 Delaney Gish and #26 Sofia Ricci. 
FHSU volleyball team gathers together to talk. 
The Tigers line up for pre-game introductions. 
The Tiger defense managed 13 blocks against Truman State 
The Tigers greet opponents before the game. 
FHSU prepares to receive a serve
FHSU responded by winning the second set 25-22. The Tigers trailed 20-18 before a timeout, then scored 7 of the next 9 points.
The Tigers continued their momentum in the third set, winning 25-20, before pulling away in the fourth set for a 25-13 victory. Senior outside hitter Peyton Bergschneider recorded the final 2 kills to finish Ramser’s first match as an FHSU coach with a victory.
Junior right-side hitter Ella Goodwin led the Tigers against Truman State with 14 kills and 3 blocks. Senior middle blocker Ashlyn Reeves added 13 kills and five blocks, while junior outside hitter Mylie Brown and Bergschneider each recorded 12 kills. Sophomore setter Annie Eaton finished with 41 assists and 16 digs, while junior libero Haylee Wolf led the team with 22 digs.
FHSU returned Friday for two matches, beginning with a three-set victory over Regis.
Ella Goodwin (Jr.) defying gravity as she soars above the net to strike the ball 
Mylie Brown (Jr.) leaping towards the volleyball to spike it towards the opponents 
Regan Widener (Fr.) and Sofia Ricci (Fr.) attempting a block at the net. 
Mylie Brown (Jr.) maneuvering the ball over the opponents defense 
Sofia Ricci (Fr.) preparing to serve with the benches motivation 
Not on our court! Sofia Ricci (Fr.) and Regan Widener (Fr.) deny the opponents from scoring 
Mylie Brown (Jr.) striking the ball towards the opponents 
The FHSU Volleyball team huddled together 
Ella Goodwin (Jr.) attempts a kill 
Ella Goodwin (Jr.) attempts a kill 
A group of FHSU VB players gathered after a successful play 
Sofia Ricci’s (Fr.) attempts a kill 
The FHSU VB lineup congratulating the opposing team after 3 successful sets, sweeping the match.
The Tigers won the first set 25-17 after building an early lead. FHSU then overcame a 6-3 deficit in the second set with a five-point run and went on to win 25-16. The Tigers finished the sweep with a 25-20 third-set victory.
The Regis match also provided opportunities for FHSU’s younger players. Freshmen contributed during the match, including middle blocker Sofia Ricci with a kill and setter Sophie Sander with an ace during the second-set comeback. Outside hitter Hannah Schade finished the third set with 5 kills.
The Tigers finished the day with another sweep, defeating Midwestern State 25-12, 25-15, and 25-17.
Haylee Wolf (#6) and Delaney Gish (#12) congratulate each other on a point. 
Sophie Sander sets the ball. 
Hope Duncan serves the ball. 
Sofia Ricci celebrating a team member’s point. 
Team celebrates a win. 
Garcia Ramser smiling about the teams first win. 
Mylie Brown (#11) and Ashlyn Reeves (#7) block the upcoming spike. 
Annie Eaton serves the ball. 
Ashlyn Reeves smiles about a teammate’s point. 
Ella Goodwin attacks the ball for a point. 
Annie Eaton sets the ball for a player to kill. 
Peyton Bergschneider gets ready to spike the ball for a point. 
Carsyn Cormaney (#1) smiles to Annie Eaton (#5) after a point. 
Mylie Brown hits the ball over the opposing team. 
Hope Duncan gets ready to serve the ball. 
Team celebrates the night’s win. 
Carsyn Cormaney (#1) and Annie Eaton (#5) celebrate a point. 
Hope Duncan serves the ball. 
Carsyn Cormaney attacks the ball for a point. 
Hope Duncan serves it over the net. 
Ella Goodwin hits it over to opposing team for a point. 
Mylie Brown attacks through the opposing team. 
Ashlyn Reeves hits it over the net for a point.
FHSU never trailed in either of the first two sets, opening the first with 7 of the first 8 points and the second with 10 of the first 11. Midwestern State briefly took a 10-9 lead in the third set, but FHSU responded with three straight points and finished the match on an 8-1 run.
Goodwin led FHSU with 13 kills against Midwestern State, while Reeves and Brown each recorded 11. Bergschneider added 10 kills, Wolf recorded 26 digs and Eaton finished with 41 assists. FHSU hit .442 as a team in the match.
The Tigers finished the tournament Saturday against Eastern New Mexico.
Widener attacking with assistance from Sander. 
The Tigers Volleyball team rush onto the court at Gross Memorial Coliseum to play the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds. 
Rallying around Head Coach Garcia Ramser. 
Hyping each other up for the first set. 
Ashlyn Reeves and Annie Eaton blocking an attack from Aaliyah Butler. 
The Tiger sideline cheering on their teammates. 
Eaton deflecting a Greyhound shot. 
Widener and Wolf successfully complete the pancake to keep the ball alive. 
Eaton deflecting a Greyhound shot. 
Delaney Gish begins play with a serve. 
Wolf high-fiving her teammates on the sideline. 
Sophie Sander produced 4 digs and 14 assists. 
Cormaney leaping to deflect against Eastern New Mexico. 
The Tigers getting feedback from Ramser during a timeout. 
Ashlyn Reeves and Sofia Ricci attempting to block. 
Wolf beginning play with a serve. 
Riccci produced eight kills, one dig and five blocks. 
The Tigers celebrating a late score in the third set. 
Friends and family of the Tigers cheering for their victory. 
The Tigers defeated the Greyhounds 3-1 in four sets, with scores of 25-22, 25-8, 22-25 and 25-15.
FHSU won the first two sets 25-22 and 25-8 before Eastern New Mexico answered with a 25-22 win in the third set. The Tigers then responded in the fourth set, overcoming an early 4-1 deficit before pulling away for a 25-15 victory.
Bergschneider led FHSU in the final match with 12 kills. Brown added 10 kills, while Ricci recorded 9 kills and 4 blocks. Junior middle blocker Carsyn Cormaney finished with 6 kills and 4 blocks, and Reeves added 8 kills and 5 blocks.
The tournament gave FHSU an opportunity to test its new lineup as it began the season under Ramser. The Tigers showed their ability to respond after losing sets, winning both matches in which they dropped a set.
FHSU finished the Tiger Classic 4-0 and will take the undefeated start into its next stretch of matches on the road. The Tigers are scheduled to play at Regis on Wednesday before competing in the Volley in the Valley tournament in Grand Junction, Colorado, Friday and Saturday.