FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team opened the 2024 Tiger Classic with a three-set sweep against the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Friday evening (Sept. 13), 27-25, 25-10, 25-14. The Tigers, now 3-1 on the season, avenged their only loss of the season in the process, while the Mountain Lions are now 4-2 this season.
The Tigers led for much of the first set, but each time the home side would go on a small run the visitors would answer back. FHSU led by as many as six early, 8-2, before the Mountain Lions scored six in a row to tie things up. The Tigers later led 16-12 and 23-18, but UCCS managed to fight back and tie the score each time.
A combo block from Claire Olson and Taytum Lovesee helped FHSU reach match point at 24-22 before the Mountain Lions scored two in a row to extend the set. Back-to-back kills from Gracie Rains eventually finished things off, 27-25.The second set was close early on, with the lead changing hands four times. Fort Hays State flipped a switch at the midway point of the frame, turning an 8-7 deficit into a 25-10 rout thanks to a 18-2 run. Rains and Olson both contributed three kills during the run, while FHSU added four blocks and three service aces to complete the rally. The Tigers posted a blistering .565 attack percentage in the second set thanks to 15 kills and just two errors on 23 swings.
The third set was nearly a carbon copy of the second, with FHSU trailing 8-7 early before going on a 12-2 run to jump in front 19-10. A kill from Grace Schmedding gave the Tigers the lead for good at 9-8 before Ashlyn Reeves added two kills and a block during the run. Tallon Rentschler later dropped in back-to-back service aces before Schmedding ended the match with her eighth kill of the evening.
Fort Hays State posted an efficient .340 attack percentage thanks to a season-low 11 errors. The Tiger defense totaled eight blocks while limiting UCCS to a swing rate of .098.Rains totaled 13 kills while adding one block assist. Olson recorded 11 kills and four blocks, including one solo swat. Schmedding had eight kills and zero errors on 17 attempts, leading the team with an attack percentage of .471. Reeves totaled five blocks (two solo) and added eight kills.
Kirsten Evans paced the team with 15 digs and added one service ace. Haylee Wolf added nine digs and two assists. Caiya Stucky tossed up 33 assists to go along with four kills, two service aces and six digs. Rentschler dropped in a team-best three service aces.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will wrap up the weekend with two matches on Saturday (Sept. 14). FHSU will first take on Truman State at noon before facing off with Northwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m.