FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team picked up a pair of wins on Saturday, defending its home turf with victories over Truman State and Northwestern Oklahoma State on the final day of the 2024 Tiger Classic. FHSU fought off the Bulldogs of TSU in four tight sets early in the afternoon before holding off a surging Rangers squad in five sets in the nightcap.
The Tigers are now 5-1 on the season, while Truman State moves to 0-8 overall and Northwestern Oklahoma State dips to 3-5.
Fort Hays State will be on the road for the next two weeks, playing three more non-conference contests in Bolivar, Mo. September 20-21 as part of the SBU Invitational before opening league action at Missouri Southern on September 27. The Tigers will next play at home during homecoming weekend when they host Northwest Missouri State on Friday, October 4.
Fort Hays State 3, Truman State 1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-23)
The Tigers opened the day with a tight battle against Truman State. The teams traded punches in each sets, including 12 ties and six lead changes in the first set, seven ties and three lead changes in the second set and six ties and three lead changes in the fourth frame.
Trailing 19-18 in the first set, FHSU scored seven of the next eight points to take the frame, 25-20. Avery Eshleman gave the Tigers the lead with back-to-back kills before Tallon Rentschler dropped in a service ace. Eshleman later finished things off with another kill.
Truman State pulled away late in the second set, leveling the score at one set each, before FHSU took control early in the third set and held on to win 25-18.
FHSU mounted one final rally late in the fourth set to seal the deal, scoring five in a row to turn a 23-20 deficit into a 25-23 victory. Ashlyn Reeves got things going with a block before a Bulldog error tied the score at 23. Reeves then dropped in a kill to reach match point before Gracie Rains closed the door with her team-leading 18th kill of the match.
The Tigers combined for a season-high 13 service aces in the win, including six from Kirsten Evans. Rains totaled 18 kills on 32 swings while adding one solo block. Grace Schmedding and Eshleman both had 12 kills each alongside two blocks. Caiya Stucky dished out 41 assists while adding three kills and eight digs. Evans racked up a team-high 25 digs, with Haylee Wolf adding 15 digs.
Fort Hays State 3, Northwestern Oklahoma State 2 (26-24, 25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 15-6)
The Tigers took control early in the last of nine matches inside Gross Memorial Coliseum on the weekend, taking the first set against NWOSU 26-24 and taking the second frame 25-21. FHSU led 12-10 midway through the third set before a big Ranger run kept the visitors in the match.
Fort Hays State trailed by as many as five in the fourth set before battling back to tie the score at 19. Northwestern Oklahoma State responded by scoring five of the last six points, taking the fourth 25-21 to send things to a deciding fifth set.
The Tigers left nothing to chance in the final stanza, scoring five in a row to take the lead for good following a 2-2 tie. Schmedding put FHSU in front with back-to-back kills before Rentschler added a back row kill. Kills from Reeves and Olson helped the Tigers reach match point before a Ranger service error sailed wide, securing the FHSU victory.
Fort Hays State notched a season-high 68 kills in the win, including 19 from Rains and 18 from Schmedding. Schmedding also led the team with 19 digs. Olson totaled 11 kills and two blocks. Stucky dished out 48 assists and tied with Taytum Lovesee for the team lead with three blocks. Evans added three more service aces in the second win, giving her nine on the day.