FHSU Athletics
WICHITA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team picked up a four-set win over Newman Friday evening, winning 23-25, 25-17, 25-14, 25-17. The Tigers (15-8, 4-7 MIAA) dropped in 14 service aces in the win, their most in a match since 2012.
Newman (2-20, 0-11 MIAA) led by as many as five early in the first set, but the Tigers were able to claw back within two, 16-14. The Jets then went on a 6-1 run to pad its lead to seven. The Tigers answered with seven-straight points, leveling the score at 22. Grace Schmedding started the run with an ace before Newman recorded five-straight errors including a pair of Tiger blocks. The home team battled back late in the frame, scoring three of the final four points to hold on for the 25-23 win.
The Jets maintained control early in the second set, leading 15-9 midway through the frame. But the Tigers rallied back in a big way, scoring 13 in a row to race in front, 22-15. Abrey Galt recorded two aces and two kills during the run, with Ashlyn Reeves adding two kills and a block. Gracie Rains later ended the set and a 16-2 Tiger run with a kill, helping FHSU level the match at 1-1.
The lead changed hands four times and there were five ties over the first 12 rallies in the third set before the Tigers took the lead for good. Newman kept things close, pulling within 11-10 before Fort Hays State was able to close the frame on a 14-4 rally. Four different Tigers recorded service aces during the run, including one each from Galt, Schmedding, Rains and Annie Eaton, pushing the Tigers to a 25-14 win.
The Tigers never trailed in the fourth set, quickly racing out to a 9-4 lead and never looking back. FHSU hit .345 as a team in the stanza, recording only two attack errors while racking up four blocks and three service aces. Hope Duncan recorded back-to-back service aces early in the frame, with Caiya Stucky Reyes recording consecutive kills later in the set to push the lead to double figures, 21-11. Schmedding brought things to a close with her team-best 16th kill of the night, giving FHSU another 25-17 win.
Schmedding added 15 digs and four service aces to her big day, while Galt tallied 25 assists, nine digs and four service aces. Carsyn Cormaney racked up six blocks, with Kirsten Evans contributing 18 digs and four assists.
The Tigers will wrap up the road trip Saturday evening when they take on Pittsburg State beginning at 6 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan. FHSU will then return home for its final four matches of the regular season starting next Friday (Nov. 7) when the Tigers host Emporia State at 6 p.m.