FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to hand Central Missouri just its second conference loss of the season Saturday evening at Gross Memorial Coliseum, winning 17-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-20, 15-11. It was the first win for the Tigers against UCM in seven years (9/30/2016).
Fort Hays State (8-12, 2-9 MIAA) took control at the net, matching its season-best total with 17 blocks, which is the most by an MIAA program in a match this season. The Tiger defense limited the Jennies (12-7, 9-2 MIAA) to an attack percentage of .117 (66-42-206), a full 90 points lower than their season average of .207. FHSU managed an attack rate of .162 (56-26-185), including swing rates of .242, .190 and .318 over the final three sets.
After recording eight attack errors in the opening frame and nine more in the second set, FHSU recorded just nine miscues over the remaining three stanzas. Gracie Rains paced the Tigers with 17 kills and added three blocks, while Riley Tinder recorded her second-consecutive double-double with 16 kills and 21 digs. Emily Ellis contributed 17 points, including 11 kills, nine blocks (one solo) and one service ace. Caiva Stucky distributed 46 assists while adding 10 digs and five blocks on defense. Brooky Hyland led the team with 22 digs.
The first set was back-and-forth early before a seven-point Jennie run followed a 13-13 tie, leading to a 25-17 victory. The second set was close throughout the duration of the frame, with neither side leading by more than two points. Fort Hays State led as late as 20-19 before a three-point Jennie run turned things around. A pair of UCM miscues helped the Tigers fend of a pair of set point opportunities and tie the score at 24 before the Jennies battled back to take the next two points and win, 26-24.
Holding a two-set lead, UCM took the first three points of the third set to take control. But FHSU bounced right back, scoring the next four to take back the lead thanks to a trio of Tiger blocks. The teams traded points for the next stretch before a 5-1 Tiger run turned a 17-17 tie into a 22-18 lead. Two kills from Rains helped the Tigers reach set point before a Jennie error handed FHSU a 25-21 win.
After racking up seven blocks in the third set, Fort Hays State added four more in the fourth to force a deciding fifth set. UCM scored the first four points to jump in front before the Tigers punched back with a 9-1 run, taking a 9-5 lead. The Jennies bounced back to level the score at 11, but a five-point Tiger run later gave FHSU the lead for good, 18-13. Stucky and Ashlyn Reeves combined for a block to reach set point before Reeves and Claire Olson teamed up for the set-winning block, giving FHSU a 25-20 win.
The teams traded points early in the final set before FHSU scored three in a row to take an 8-5 lead thanks to back-to-back kills from Ellis. UCM responded with the next three points to again tie things up, but kills from Reeves and Tinder helped the Tigers take the lead for good. Reeves and Olson later teamed up for another block before Rains brought the match to a close with her 17th and final kill of the evening.
Fort Hays State will wrap up a six-match homestand Tuesday when the Tigers host Emporia State beginning at 6 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.