FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team defeated Pittsburg State in straight sets Saturday afternoon inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, winning 27-25, 25-16, 25-22. The Tigers are now 12-9 overall and 4-8 in conference play, while the Gorillas dip to 10-12 on the year and 5-7 in league action.
Fort Hays State was in control all afternoon, trailing only twice in the match and never by more than two points. The Tigers took an early 5-3 lead before rattling off five-straight points to take a commanding 10-3 lead. Pittsburg State managed to close within one at 12-11 before the Tigers pushed the lead back up to five. The Gorillas hung around, using a 7-1 run to take their first lead of the day at 22-21. Kills from Taytum Lovesee and Claire Olson helped FHSU regain the lead before the teams traded points over the next five rallies. Grace Schmedding helped the Tigers reach set point before a Gracie Rains kill handed the Tigers a 27-25 win.
Pittsburg State scored the first two points in the second set, but it didn't take long for FHSU to bounce back with the Tigers scoring on the next three rallies. A 5-1 run allowed the Tigers to push the lead to 9-5, prompting a Gorilla timeout. The Tigers maintained a multiple point lead the rest of the way, later sealing a 25-16 win on another Rains kill.
Fort Hays State led wire-to-wire in the third set after scoring the first five points and nine of the first 10. Pittsburg State responded with a 6-1 run to close within three, 10-7, but the Tigers punched back to stretch the lead back to six. The Gorillas later closed within one point four separate times, but FHSU had an answer each time. Schmedding fought off the first PSU rally with a kill before Ashlyn Reeves recorded a kill to fight off the next run. A kill from Lovesee put the Tigers up 21-19 after two-straight Gorilla points. Schmedding later helped FHSU reach match point before Olson dropped in the final kill to secure the Senior Day victory.
The Tigers posted an attack percentage of .224 (42-16-116) compared to a swing rate of .134 (41-24-127) for the Gorillas. Schmedding led the match with 14 kills while adding 10 digs and one solo block, while Olson totaled 12 kills and two blocks (one solo) on her Senior Day. Caiya Stucky distributed 33 assists and added seven digs, two blocks and one kill. Kirsten Evans recorded a team-best 13 digs, while Delaney Gish added two service aces.
UP NEXT
After wrapping up the regular season 5-5 at home, the Tigers will be back on the road next Friday when they take on Emporia State beginning at 6 p.m.