FHSU Athletics
TOPEKA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team fell to ninth-ranked Washburn in three sets Friday evening at Whiting Fieldhouse 25-21, 25-17, 25-22. The Tigers (13-5, 2-4 MIAA) kept things close in the kills category, trailing the Ichabods (16-1, 5-1 MIAA) by only seven, 45-38, but 11 more attack errors made the biggest difference on the stat sheet.
The Tigers opened the first set against with a steady exchange of points, highlighted by Ashlyn Reeves contributing multiple kills to keep the score close. Despite an early tie at 10-10, Washburn managed to gain some separation with a series of effective plays.
Fort Hays State mounted a comeback, rallying from four points down to tie things at 19 thanks to kills from Carsyn Cormaney and Gracie Rains and a service ace from Peyton Bergschneider. However, Washburn responded with a 6-2 run to take the opening set by four points.
Washburn scored the first three points to take control of the second set, maintaining the lead throughout the frame. The Tigers were within two at 7-5 before a 7-1 run stretched the Ichabod lead to 14-6.
The third set was the closest of the three, featuring 10 ties and three lead changes. The Tigers led early before Washburn went up by three midway through the set, 12-9. The visitors fought back with a 4-1 run to tie the score at 13 thanks to three blocks and a Cormaney kill.
Washburn later scored four in a row to go up four, but the Tigers answered with a 5-0 run to retake the lead. Multiple Ichabod errors narrowed the deficit to one before Rains tied the score with a kill. Reeves and Avery Eshleman teamed up with a block to give the Tigers the 19-18 lead before Washburn regained control, taking seven of the last 10 points to seal the win.
Rains led the offense with 11 kills, maintaining a hitting percentage of .273. Abrey Galt contributed to the team's playmaking with 24 assists in the match. Caiya Stucky Reyes totaled four kills, three blocks, nine assists and one service ace, while Kirsten Evans led the way with nine digs.
In their next game, the Tigers will travel to Emporia on Saturday (Oct. 11) to face Emporia State beginning at 7 p.m. before returning home for seven of their final nine matches of the regular season.