FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team clinched its second-consecutive victory Thursday evening (Oct. 26) with a three-set sweep of the Newman Jets, 25-21, 25-21, 26-24. The win helped Fort Hays State (11-14, 5-11 MIAA) secure a winning record at home this season, with the Tigers finishing the year 8-7 inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Tigers never trailed in the opening set, with the home team scoring the first eight points of the night thanks to two kills from Gracie Rains, one kill from Ashlyn Reeves and Claire Olson and two combo blocks from Reeves and Olson and then Reeves and Rains. Newman closed within two points on three different occasions, but Fort Hays State had an answer each time.
The second set was closer, featuring eight ties and three lead changes. FHSU trailed by six early before scoring six in a row to tie things up at nine. The Tigers took their first lead of the set at 17-16 after three-consecutive points, including back-to-back kills from Mya Vandrovec. Newman bounced back to lead 20-19 before the Tigers scored six of the final seven points to clinch the frame, 25-21, on a Riley Tinder service ace.
Newman led by four early in the third set, the largest lead of the frame for either team, before Fort Hays State bounced back to keep things close the rest of the way. The lead changed hands five times the rest of the way, including one final time late in the match when the Tigers made one last push. Trailing 24-22, FHSU scored the final four points to fend off a pair of set point opportunities and complete the sweep, 26-24. Olson kept the Tigers alive with her team-leading ninth kill of the evening before a pair of Jet errors gave the home team a chance at set point. Brooke Hyland sealed the deal with her third service ace of the match.
The Jets held a slim edge in attack percentage, .107 (37-24-121) to .106 (33-22-104), but Newman fell behind due to 12 service errors. Reeves compiled four blocks on the night, including one solo block. Seniors Emily Ellis and Riley Tinder combined for seven kills and 14 digs in their final home match in the Black and Gold.
Fort Hays State will wrap up the regular season with four matches on the road over the next two weeks, beginning with a trip to St. Joseph, Mo. to take on Missouri Western next Friday (Nov. 3, 6 p.m.). The Tigers currently sit in a tie for seventh in the win column in the MIAA standings, with the top eight teams at the conclusion of the season securing a trip to the MIAA Championship Tournament November 16-18.