JOPLIN, Mo. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team picked up a three-set victory on the final day of the regular season Saturday (Nov. 13), cruising past Missouri Southern 25-23, 25-15, 25-20. The win gives the Tigers (13-16, 7-13 MIAA) some momentum heading into next week's MIAA Championship, while the Lions' season comes to a close at 4-26 (1-19 MIAA).
The Tigers raced out to a 9-4 lead early in the first set, prompting an MSSU timeout, before the Lions stormed back to tie things up at 12. Fort Hays State never relinquished the lead, however, holding off several Lion runs to stay on top. A kill from Morgan Christiansen later in the set gave the Tigers a 25-23 win. Missouri Southern led by as many as four early in the second set before Fort Hays State closed the frame on a 18-5 run to earn a decisive 25-15 win. The Tigers pulled away early in the third set and held off a Lion run midway through the frame to seal the match, 25-20.
Riley Tinder led the Tigers with 11 kills and added 10 digs and three blocks, while Christiansen and Isabelle Reynolds each had nine kills. Christiansen also tallied four blocks and Reynolds had 17 digs. Elysia Glowacz tossed up 20 assists while Olivia Hessman totaled 19 assists and eight digs. Jaden Daffer led the team with 19 digs and two service aces.
The Tigers will now turn their sites towards the MIAA Championship Tournament, where they will play fifth-ranked Northwest Missouri State on the road Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. The Tigers earned the seventh seed in the tournament, while the Bearcats are the No. 2 seed after finishing the year 24-4 overall and 17-3 in conference play.
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