FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a four-set victory over Truman State Thursday (Aug. 27) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, winning 22-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-13. The Tigers hit .240 or better in all four sets, battling from behind to win their season-opener for the third year in a row.
Two kills each from Carsyn Cormaney and Mylie Brown helped the Tigers to an early 6-0 run, putting FHSU in front 8-3. FHSU later led by as many as eight, 18-10, but TSU rallied with seven in a row to pull within one. Truman State took the lead at 21-20 and held on the rest of the way, winning 25-22.
The second set was tight throughout, with neither side leading by more than three at any point. A Peyton Bergschneider kill gave the Tigers an 18-17 lead, but the Bulldogs responded with three in a row to pull in front, 20-18. FHSU came out of a timeout on fire, scoring seven of the next nine points to take the set, 25-22. Ella Goodwin recorded three kills during the run, including the final kill to level the match at one.
Truman State led as late as 10-9 in the third set before a six-point Tiger run put the home team in front for good. Ashlyn Reeves racked up five kills and two blocks in the set, including the final two kills of the set to seal a 25-20 victory.
A 10-1 run over the heart of the fourth set helped the Tigers pull away with a 25-13 win, with FHSU hitting .275 in the final frame while limiting the Bulldogs to a swing rate of .051. Bergschneider tallied the final two kills to secure the victory in head coach Garcia Ramser's first match as a Tiger.
Goodwin led the Tigers with 14 kills and three blocks, with Reeves adding 13 kills and five blocks (one solo). Brown and Bergschneider recorded 12 kills each, with Bergschneider totaling 10 digs for a double-double. Annie Eaton racked up 41 assists, 16 digs and three service aces in the win, while Haylee Wolf led the way with 22 digs.
The Black and Gold will continue play in the 2026 Tiger Classic on Friday (Aug. 28) when the Tigers host Regis at 2:30 p.m. and Midwestern State at 7:30 p.m.