FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team rallied to take the opening set Friday (Oct. 21) against Missouri Western before falling in four close sets, 26-24, 23-25, 22-25, 20-25. The Tigers (10-13, 5-10 MIAA) and Griffons (8-15, 5-10 MIAA) went back-and-forth all evening, with the match including 26 ties and 14 lead changes.
The Tigers took control early in the first set, scoring five of the first six points to take a quick four-point lead. The Griffons battled back to tie things up at 9-9 before another FHSU run gave the Tigers a seven-point lead, 20-13. Riley Tinder recorded four kills and Jaida Felix and Jaden Daffer both dropped in service aces during the 11-4 run, putting the Tigers in great position to finish off the set. Missouri Western came back strong, however, scoring seven in a row to tie the score at 20 before reaching set point at 24-22 after an 11-2 run. An Emily Ellis kill stopped the bleeding before Morgan Christiansen tied things up at 24 with a kill. Ellis proceeded to add another service ace before Tinder and Christiansen teamed up for a set-ending block.
Fort Hays State led by as many as five midway through the second set, but another big Griffon run helped the visitors keep things close. The Tigers led as late as 23-22 before three-straight MWSU kills evened the match at 1-1. The Tigers were playing from behind in the third set, trailing by as many as five before scoring six in a row to take a 16-15 lead. Gracie Rains led the way in the run with two kills and a block assist alongside Ellis before another Daffer service ace put the Tigers in front. FHSU led as late as 20-19 before the Griffons pulled away late, taking a 2-1 lead in the contest. Fort Hays State led by as many as three midway through the fourth set before an 11-2 Griffon run put the visitors in front for good.
Claire Olson led the Tigers with 13 kills, with Mykah Eshbaugh also reaching double figures with 10 kills. Tinder totaled eight kills, 16 digs and two blocks, with Daffer leading the team with 18 digs. Kirsten Evans, Daffer and Felix all recorded three service aces, helping the Tigers to 13 on the night.
The Tigers will take on Central Missouri on Saturday (Oct. 22) at 6 p.m. before hosting No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday (Oct. 25) at 6 p.m.