Fort Hays State fell 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-22) on Wednesday evening to Emporia State inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. Despite taking the first set, FHSU struggled in the second set and let late leads slip away in the third and fourth. FHSU dropped to 13-18 (3-12 MIAA) on the season while ESU improved to 17-10 (8-7 MIAA).
Jenna Ulrich’s first block assist of the match gave her the school’s career total blocks record for the NCAA era. Ulrich recorded four blocks in the match and now sits at 435 for her career, passing the old mark of 431 set by Jennifer Brandes, who just was inducted into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame earlier this month.
FHSU led the entire first set, using consecutive kills by Taylor Mares to jump ahead, stretching the lead to as many as three (9-6) early in the set. Up 16-12 (which tied the largest lead of the set), the Tigers allowed the Hornets close within one, 18-17, before calling timeout. Late in the set, two straight kills by Mallory Flagor and a Hornet setting error gave the Tigers game one, 25-21.
FHSU’s strong effort continued early in the second set, as the team led by as many as three on three occasions before ESU rallied to tie it, 12-12. After battling back and forth to 15-all, the Hornets grabbed control with a 10-2 run and took the set, 25-17.
Out of intermission, ESU led 5-1 before a Tiger rally tied it at 9-9 on Flagor’s 10th kill of the evening. The teams traded points until 14-14, when a quick two-point burst, highlighted by a powerful Camille Hubert kill, gave a small advantage to FHSU. Up 19-16, FHSU controlled the match until 23-21, as two ESU points forced a FHSU timeout. The Tigers could not stop the run and dropped the set, 26-24.
FHSU stalled to start the fourth set, falling behind 14-8 before roaring back with a 7-0 run. Later in the set, down 21-19, FHSU again fought off elimination with a three-point rally to take a one-point lead, 22-21. That was short lived as ESU regained control and took the match, 25-22.
Hubert led the Tigers with 13 kills and added 10 digs for a double-double. Sara Hewson also had a double-double of 12 kills and a team-leading 25 digs. Mares reached double figures in kills as well with 12. Libby Ary recorded a double-double of 28 assists and 13 digs.
Carly Spicer was the only Hornet to reach double figures in kills with 12. Sydney Hartman paced ESU in assists with 24 and libero Kelly Holden had a team-high 19 digs.
The Tigers close out the home portion of their 2013 schedule on Friday (Nov. 15) for a senior night matchup against Oklahoma-Panhandle State. FHSU will honor Hubert, Samantha, Madison Schwartz, Ulrich and Makenzie Weinman prior to the game.
— FHSU Sports Information —