PUEBLO, Colo. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team posted another 1-1 day on Saturday (Sept. 4), knocking off UMary in straight sets after falling to Chadron State during the final day of the Steel City Showcase.
The Tigers and Chadron State both finished the opening weekend with a 2-2 record, while UMary is now 1-3.
Emily Ellis had two strong performances on the day, totaling 14 kills and seven blocks between the two contests.
Fort Hays State will return home to host the 2021 FHSU Tiger Classic next Friday and Saturday (Sept. 10-11). Action will begin at 10 a.m. on two courts, with the Tigers playing at 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day.
Fort Hays State 3, UMary 0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-20)
The Tigers took care of business in the weekend finale, leading wire-to-wire in both the first and second sets. After opening up a 13-5 lead in the first frame, FHSU scored seven-straight points to build the advantage to 20-5. Ellis and Claire Olson combined for back-to-back blocks at the end of the run before Mykah Eshbaugh dropped in the final kill to seal a 25-10 win in set one.
Fort Hays State scored on seven-consecutive rallies again in the second set, this time taking the first seven points to take command right away. Riley Tinder got things going with a kill before Ellis added to her total with a kill. Isabelle Reynolds followed with a solo block before Olson joined the party with a kill. Two Marauder miscues and a Reynolds kill capped off the run. UMary went on a small run late in the set, but the Tiger lead was more than enough. Jaida Felix ended the frame with back-to-back service aces, giving FHSU a 2-0 lead.
UMary finally took a lead in the third set, leading as late as 7-9 before the Tigers regained control. Three-straight points helped FHSU take the lead before a 4-0 run gave the Tigers the lead for good. The Marauders were within one point late in the set, 20-19, but the Tigers secured five of the final six points to secure the set and match.
The Tigers hit .313 in the match while holding UMary to a -.011 attack rate. The Tigers hit an astounding .520 in the opening frame thanks to 15 kills and just two errors on 25 swings.
Ellis totaled eight kills on 13 attempts while adding five blocks in the win. Tinder also totaled eight kills while adding one block and six digs. Olson contributed six kills, four blocks and four digs while Reynolds recorded five kills, two service aces, two blocks and a team-high 11 digs.
Elysia Glowacz totaled 20 assists, with Felix adding 10 assists and two service aces. Jaden Daffer tallied five assists and nine digs in the victory.
Chadron State 3, Fort Hays State 0 (21-25, 17-25, 16-25)
The Tigers kept things close for much of the first set against Chadron State, trailing by just one as late as 22-21 before the Eagles scored the final three points to take the win. FHSU then led 11-10 in the second set before a 9-0 Chadron State run took the wind out of the Tiger sails. Fort Hays State continued to battle in the third set before CSC completed the sweep with a 25-16 win.
Reynolds, Ellis and Jaysa Wichers all recorded six kills against Chadron. Reynolds added one service ace and five digs, while Ellis totaled two blocks and Wichers tossed up three assists. Eshbaugh and Morgan Christiansen both contributed five kills and two blocks. Glowacz led the team with 14 assists while Daffer recorded a team-high 12 digs.