FHSU Athletics
KEARNEY, Neb. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team gave 6th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney all it could handle Friday evening (Oct. 25) on the road, taking the Lopers to four sets before falling 26-28, 26-24, 22-25, 17-25.
The Tigers (10-9, 2-8) held leads in each of the first three sets, but the league-leading Lopers (22-1, 9-1) managed to defend their home floor and secure the win.
The Tigers dominated out of the gate, scoring nine in a row to take a commanding 9-1 lead. Claire Olson and Ashlyn Reeves each had two kills and a block during the run, helping FHSU take complete control and silence the UNK crowd. The Lopers closed within five, 12-7, before a 5-1 Tiger run put FHSU up nine, 17-8.
The Tigers maintained their advantage, later leading 21-12 before the home team came roaring back. UNK scored six in a row to pull within three, 21-18, before Reeves broke up the streak with a kill. FHSU scored again on a Loper error, putting the Tigers within two of taking the set, 23-18. UNK scored the next four to pull within one before a service error gave the Tigers the first set point opportunity. The Lopers then scored three in a row to pull in front for the first time since it was 1-0, 25-24. FHSU fought off a pair of Loper set points before the home team ultimately took the set 28-26.
The Lopers used the momentum to build a five-point lead early in the second set. Trailing 16-11, Fort Hays State scored five in a row to level the score at 16. Olson opened the run with a kill before Reeves and Caiya Stucky followed with kills. FHSU then tied the score on back-to-back blocks, one from Reeves and Grace Schmedding and one from Reeves and Stucky.
The teams traded points for the next dozen rallies before FHSU finally broke through and took the lead at 23-22. The Lopers punched right back, however, taking the next two points to reach set point. An attack error kept the Tigers alive before Stucky and Reeves teamed up for another block to give FHSU a chance at set point. Another Loper error sealed the deal in the second, giving FHSU a 26-24 win.
The black and gold led by as many as three midway through the third set, 13-10, after the Tigers rattled off four consecutive points. Olson began the run with a kill before Stucky and Reeves got together for two more rejections. FHSU led as late as 14-13 before the Lopers scored three in a row to take the lead for good. The home team reached set point at 24-20 before the Tigers dropped in a pair of kills to extend the set two more points. UNK finally finished things off with a kill, taking the set 25-22.
The Lopers never trailed in the fourth set, using an 11-2 run to turn a slim 8-7 edge into a commanding 19-9 lead. Fort Hays State later trailed by as many as 12, 24-12, before fighting off five match points and pull within 24-17. The rally eventually fell short, with UNK taking the set 25-17 to secure the victory.
The Tigers posted an attack percentage of .160 on the night (56-25-194) while racking up 10 total blocks. Olson led the team with 14 kills, doing so on 33 attempts with just one error for a swing rate of .394. Schmedding and Rains each tallied 11 kills, with Reeves adding 10 kills and seven blocks (one solo). Stucky racked up 40 assists, six digs, five blocks and four kills. Kirsten Evans led the team with 26 digs while adding six assists.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State will return home for its final two regular season home matches next weekend when Newman comes to town on Friday (Nov. 1, 6 p.m.) followed by a match against Pittsburg State on Saturday (Nov. 2, 2 p.m.).