FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State Volleyball battled with undefeated Central Oklahoma, but dropped a 3-0 (23-25, 23-25, 22-25) contest to the Bronchos on Saturday afternoon inside Gross Coliseum.
The Tigers (6-5, 1-2 MIAA) hit .205 as a team but were hurt by 14 hitting errors and 28 total errors. UCO (11-0, 3-0 MIAA) hit .258 and had 18 hitting errors.
FHSU started hot, rolling to a 6-1 start in the first set before a UCO timeout. The Bronchos climbed back to tie it, 11-11, and back-and-forth action brought the score to 21-all late in the set.
Two quick UCO points forced an FHSU timeout, and though Mallory Flagor broke the run with a kill (23-22), the Bronchos recovered to take the set, 25-23.
Down 1-0, FHSU looked to respond in the second set, but trailed 17-7 midway through the break. After see-saw play put the Tigers down 20-10, a kill from Rebekah Spainhour started a 5-0 run for FHSU that included three UCO errors and a Kristin Conor ace.
UCO broke the run, but FHSU ran off three unanswered in the next sequence, cutting the lead to three (21-18). A kill from Sara Hewson shrunk the deficit to one (24-23) at set point, but a kill by UCO’s Barbara Jackson sent the Tigers to intermission, trailing 2-0 in the set.
In the match’s final frame, FHSU again played even with the Bronchos until late in the set, tied 17-all midway through. A two-point run for UCO provided the visitor’s separation, and though FHSU stayed close (24-22) at match point, the Tigers couldn’t complete the comeback and fell, 25-22.
Flagor hit double digits in kills (13) for the 10th consecutive match, leading the team while hitting .333. Spainhour added nine kills from the middle with two blocks, while Teresa Wade had seven kills and three blocks (one solo) on the outside.
Setters Libby Ary (22 assists) and Libby Ary (12 assists) saw action in all three sets, and Keanu Bradley led the team with 21 digs. It was Bradley’s fifth match with 20-plus kills this year.
FHSU closes out its three-game home stand this Tuesday (Sept. 23) against No. 5 Washburn for Pack the Gym night at Gross Coliseum. Tuesday’s match is set for 7 p.m.