FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team dropped a battle against Missouri Western Saturday afternoon inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, falling 22-25, 23-25, 25-15, 24-26. The Tigers (9-4, 1-3 MIAA) tallied more points than the Griffons (12-3, 3-1 MIAA) and outhit their opponent, .229-.215, in the loss.
The teams battled back-and-forth to start set one, with neither team leading by more than three points until the Griffons scored five in a row to take a 22-17 lead. Fort Hays State later scored four in a row to close within one, 23-22, before the visitors finished off the win.
The second set was just as close, featuring 10 ties and five lead changes. The score margin remained at or below two for the bulk of the frame until a 5-0 Tiger run put the home team in front, 19-15. Claire Olson opened the run with a kill and later teamed up with Ashlyn Reeves for a block. The sophomore middle hitter then tallied back-to-back kills, pushing the lead to four. Missouri Western battled back to tie the score at 21 and later sealed the 25-23 win with a kill.
Fort Hays State proceeded to dominate the third set, posting an incredible .520 attack percentage with 14 kills and just one error on 25 attempts. Olson and Gracie Rains each had four kills in the set, with Caiya Stucky adding three. The front line of defense was equally as impressive, totaling five blocks during the 25-15 blowout win.
The fourth set was another close call, with neither side leading by more than four points throughout the set. MWSU scored three in a row to take its largest lead at 15-11 before the Tigers battled back to tie things up at 17 on a combo block from Reeves and Grace Schmedding. Fort Hays State would tie the score three more times down the stretch, including at 23-23 and 24-24 before the Griffons managed consecutive points to complete the win.
Rains led all players with 18 kills, with Olson adding 14 kills and five assisted blocks. Schmedding racked up 20 digs alongside seven kills, two blocks and one service ace. Stucky dished out 46 assists, two off her season high, while adding four kills, four blocks (one solo) and one service ace. Reeves posted six kills and seven blocks (one solo).
UP NEXT
The Tigers' homestand will continue Tuesday when they host No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney beginning at 6 p.m.