{"id":83606,"date":"2024-11-20T15:10:33","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T21:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=83606"},"modified":"2024-11-20T15:10:34","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T21:10:34","slug":"fhsu-volleyball-returns-to-miaa-tournament-faces-unk-thursday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=83606","title":{"rendered":"FHSU volleyball returns to MIAA tournament, faces UNK Thursday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By MAYAN PAZ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fort Hays State University volleyball team qualified for the MIAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 and will face No.1 seed Washburn on Thursday in St. Joseph, Missouri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tigers earned the No.8 seed after going 12-13 overall and 4-12 in MIAA play. While FHSU finished below teams such as Arkansas-Fort Smith and Pittsburg State in terms of league records, the MIAA used KPI rankings this year to determine tournament seeding. KPI is a measurement used to determine the strength of the schedule and wins for each team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The KPI rankings were used because the MIAA played an unbalanced schedule, where some teams played each other twice and others played each other once. The schedule is split into two divisions: north and south. Teams in the MIAA north had better records this season, allowing those teams more opportunities to play teams ranked higher in the KPI. FHSU plays in the north. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FHSU Head Coach Jessica Wood-Atkins explained the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are in the tougher half of the conference,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd so if you look at it, even though Arkansas Fort-Smith and Pitt had a better record, we beat both of those teams, and we only got to play them once, whereas they got to play each other twice. So their opportunities at what they deem winnable games were stronger in the south.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FHSU will now play top-seed and national No.3 Nebraska-Kearney (28-1, 15-1). The Tigers were a strong opponent for the Lopers in the two encounters they had this season. The Tigers lost 3-1 in both matches and are one of the only teams this year to win a set against UNK- a feat FHSU accomplished twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe that our team has had the capacity to meet them from the start, but I think what we needed was a little experience against them, knowing how to do it,\u201d Wood-Atkins said. \u201cWe have the players, we have the strategy, we have the strengths that we line up against them very well. But the margin, when you talk about point scoring, hitting, percentage blocking, our teams are very evenly paired, and so it is a very narrow margin as to who I think is going to win that match.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FHSU has a relatively young roster, with 10 players that will play in a conference tournament for the first time. For the more experienced players on the team, it\u2019s their responsibility to help the youngsters adjust and rise to the occasion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tallon Rentchler, a junior defensive specialist, spoke about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that my role as an upperclassman, and one that’s been here for a longer time than the freshmen, is kind of leading by example,\u201d junior defensive specialist Tallon Rentschler said. \u201cWe talk about team standards, and if the freshmen see us doing it, they’re going to know that this is a must. It’s not a come-and-go thing; it’s just leading by example and always doing what’s expected as a team, standard-wise. We always kind of keep ourselves to a high standard and then hopefully bring them along with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wood-Atkins said she is trying to make the players feel like it\u2019s just another game to help them stay relaxed ahead of the matchup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that from a mental standpoint, we have to look at it as just another game. But obviously, we want to come out and play our best game, so we should be playing our best ball as a team,\u201d she said. \u201cAt this point in the game we’re just looking that next day ahead. How do we train today to be our to be better tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tigers believe they can pull the upset, and Rentschler made sure to say it confidently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey say a team can\u2019t beat you three times,\u201d Rentschler said. \u201cI think we are ready to beat them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tigers will play Nebraska-Kearny in the MIAA tournament quarter-finals at 5 p.m. on Thursday. The tournament will be played at St. Joseph, Missouri.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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