FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team came up just short in a narrow five-set defeat Friday evening against Missouri Southern, 25-18, 29-31, 25-21, 23-25, 15-11. The Tigers (7-12, 1-9 MIAA) managed two more kills than the Lions (12-7, 5-5 MIAA), 60-58, but an 11-4 edge in service aces and nine fewer errors (40-31) allowed the visitors to leave town with the win.
The Tigers led 13-9 midway through the first set before Missouri Southern rallied to take 16 of the next 21 points to win the set, 25-18. After totaling nine kills in the first frame, Fort Hays State bounced back with 19 in the second.
Missouri Southern led by as many as six in the second set, 11-5, and later led 20-16 before the Tigers came storming back with a four-point run to tie the score. The teams traded points until FHSU took its first lead of the set at 26-25 on back-to-back kills from Riley Tinder. The Tigers were unable to capitalize on a pair of set-point opportunities, allowing MSSU to go back on top and have their own chance at the set, 29-28. Gracie Rains would not allow that to happen, however, with the sophomore rattling off three consecutive kills to level the match, 1-1.
The Lions again pulled away early in set three, leading 17-7 and again by 10 at 19-9. Fort Hays State sprinted back into the mix with five consecutive points, closing within 20-17 and later as close as 22-21 thanks to back-to-back attack errors. But Missouri Southern was finally able to fight off the Tiger threat, scoring the next three to close out the set, 25-21.
Fort Hays State took a turn at jumping out in front in set four, taking eight of the first 12 rallies to lead by four, 8-4. MSSU closed within two before a 6-2 run aided by multiple Emily Ellis kills gave the Tigers a six-point edge, 19-13. The Lions managed to close within one late in the set, but a fourth kill in the set from Ellis gave the Tigers the 25-23 win and sent things to a fifth and final set.
Both teams were efficient on offense in the final set, combining for just three errors. The Tigers took an early three-point lead and again led by three when the teams swapped sides, 8-5. But the Lions roared back after that point, taking 10 of the final 13 rallies to seal the set, 15-11, and secure the match.
Tinder recorded a double-double, totaling 11 kills and 20 digs to match Brooke Hyland for the team lead in digs. Rains paced the team with 21 kills while adding four block assists. Ashlyn Reeves compiled six blocks in the match, including two solo swats. Caiya Stucky distributed 49 assists on the night, adding 12 digs, two blocks and one kill. Tinder and Kristen Evans each recorded two service aces.
Fort Hays State finished the night with an attack percentage of .095 (60-40-210) compared to a swing rate of .132 (58-31-204) from the Lions.
The Tigers will continue their homestand Saturday (Oct. 14) when FHSU hosts Central Missouri beginning at 6 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. Saturday's contest will be the annual Dig Pink match, with fans receiving FREE admission when they wear pink. The team will also be accepting donations for the Dig Pink Scholarship, an annual scholarship supporting a Fort Hays State University student that has been affected by cancer.