FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Volleyball had four players named to the 2023 Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team, which took place this past weekend (Sept. 8-9) in Hays. Earning the honors were Riley Tinder, Emily Ellis, Gracie Rains, and Caiya Stucky. Tinder was named the MVP of the tournament. The team was selected by coaches of the five teams competing in the tournament.
Tinder averaged 2.4 kills per set with a total of 36 for the weekend. She also played solid defense, averaging 3.53 digs per set. Tinder had a weekend-high 15 kills against New Mexico Highlands in a 3-1 win and had a double-double of 11 kills and 19 digs against Southern Nazarene in a 3-0 win. She finished the weekend with 18 digs against Cameron to help FHSU cap an undefeated weekend.\
Ellis averaged 1.57 blocks per set at the Tiger Classic with a total of 22 over 14 sets. In a 3-1 win over Minnesota State, she had had a double-double in blocks and kills with 10 each. She was just one assisted block shy of her own school record for assisted blocks in a four-set match with nine. She had a weekend-high 12 kills in a 3-1 win over New Mexico Highlands. Ellis was just one point shy of the team lead for the weekend with 46 total points. Even as a middle blocker, she still averaged 1.14 digs per set for the weekend.
Rains averaged 3.14 kills per set to lead FHSU to an undefeated record at its home tournament, the Tiger Classic. She had 44 kills and took a team-high 109 attempts, producing a .211 hitting percentage for the week. She had a weekend-high 13 kills against both New Mexico Highlands and Southern Nazarene, averaging 4.3 kills per set in each of those matches. She led the team in points with 47 for the weekend.
Stucky averaged 10.73 assists, 2.47 digs, and 0.87 blocks per set for the tournament. Her best single-game average for the weekend in assists came in the 3-0 win over Southern Nazarene as she handed out 12.7 per set. Her weekend high for total assists was 45 against New Mexico Highlands in a 3-1 win, while adding 5 blocks in the match. Against Cameron, she added 14 digs with 41 assists for her second double-double performance of the season in those categories. Stucky also scattered in seven kills and three service aces for the weekend.
Below is the 2023 Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team.
Fort Hays State - Riley Tinder – MVP
Fort Hays State- Gracie Rains
Fort Hays State- Emily Ellis
Fort Hays State - Caiya Stucky
Minnesota State - Sophie Teitz
Minnesota State - Toryn Richards
Minnesota State - Emma Loveall
Southern Nazarene - Sunny Batschelett
Southern Nazarene - Kaley Brubaker
Southern Nazarene - Tessa Henry
Cameron - Caitlyn Henderson
Cameron - Meagan Jimenez