HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team fell to Central Oklahoma in three sets on Saturday, 25-14, 25-14, 25-19. The Tigers move to 11-12 on the year and 5-9 in MIAA play, while the Bronchos are now 16-6 overall and 9-5 in conference action.
The Tigers kept things close early in the first set until UCO went on a 7-1 run to build a 17-9 lead. Fort Hays State led by as many as four early in the second set and as late as 9-8 before the Bronchos took control. The visitors used a 12-2 run to turn an 11-11 tie into a 23-13 lead before heading to the locker room with another 25-14 win. FHSU again led early in the third set, but the Bronchos used another controlling run to secure the sweep, 25-19.
Morgan Christiansen connected on a team-high eight kills while adding one block. Riley Tinder contributed seven kills and 12 digs, while Mykah Eshbaugh, Emily Ellis and Isabelle Reynolds all had five kills each. Elysia Glowacz dished out 16 assists, while Olivia Hessman added 14 assists, one service ace and eight digs. Jaden Daffer led the team with 19 digs.
Central Oklahoma had six players with at least six kills and collected eight team blocks. Libero Katie Le racked up 28 digs and setter Mallory Hendrix totaled 31 assists.
Fort Hays State will be on the road next weekend (Oct. 29-30) to face off with No. 6 Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western. The Tigers will first play the Bearcats in Maryville, Mo. on Friday beginning at 6 p.m. before facing off with the Griffons in St. Joseph, Mo. on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.
FHSU Athletics