BETHANY, Okla. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team opened play in the MIAA/GAC Crossover with a split Friday (Sept. 15), rallying to defeat Southwestern Oklahoma State before falling to Northwestern Oklahoma State in the evening session. The Tigers are now 6-6 on the year, while the Bulldogs fell to 4-9 after two losses and the Rangers improved to 7-5 with a pair of wins.
Magan Alexander led the Tigers offensively in both matches, picking up 34 kills on the day. Amirah Bentley tossed up 87 assists between the two matches while adding 27 digs. Taylor White led the team with 32 digs on the day.
The Tigers are set to wrap up their early season non-conference schedule Saturday (Sept. 16) when they face off against Oklahoma Baptist at 10 a.m. and tournament-host Southern Nazarene at 6 p.m.
Fort Hays State 3, Southwestern Oklahoma State 2 (11-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-17, 15-12)
Despite a slow start, the Tigers rallied from a two-set deficit to knock off Southwestern Oklahoma State in a thrilling five-set match. It is the fifth time that FHSU has gone the distance this season, matching its total from all of last season. The Tigers are now 4-1 in five-set contests this year.
The Tigers went to Magan Alexander early and often, with the sophomore picking up 20 kills on 48 swings. Her 20 kills match the most in a match for a Tiger so far this season. Kylie Rollman added 14 kills, while Sydney Dixon also reached double figures with 11. Amirah Bentley had a busy afternoon, leading the team with 52 assists and 22 digs.
SWOSU outhit (.254 to .177) and outblocked (seven to three) the Tigers in the match, but FHSU held an advantage in service aces (seven to two) and kills (65 to 63).
Fort Hays State struggled out of the gate, losing the first set 25-11 and falling behind early in the second frame. The Tigers began to regroup in the second set, trading points with the Bulldogs all game, leading to 15 ties and six lead changes. FHSU led as late as 20-19, but Southwestern Oklahoma State jumped back in front to reach set point, 24-23. The Tigers tied things up at 24 to hold off one set point, but the Bulldogs recorded the next two points to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
The teams traded punches in the third set, with neither side leading by more than four until the Tigers put together three-straight points to win the match, 25-21. A kill from Alexander returned serve to the Tigers at 23-21. White proceeded to record back-to-back aces to win the set and keep the Tigers alive in the match.
After falling behind 2-0 early in the fourth set, FHSU captured five of the next six points to take a 5-3 lead and never trailed again in the match. Bentley recorded a kill and a service ace to spark another 5-1 run for the Tigers, this time giving the Tigers a 25-17 victory in the set and forcing a deciding fifth set.
The Tigers put their foot on the gas to start the fifth set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead after Tatum Bartels delivered a strong kill. FHSU stretched the lead to six with a block from Callie Christensen and Alexander, but SWOSU scored the next four points to close within two. Interim head coach Brandi Fairbank called a timeout to regroup, helping the Tigers put away the set and the match with a 15-12 victory.
Northwestern Oklahoma State 3, Fort Hays State 0 (21-25, 21-25, 20-25)
The Tigers couldn’t get anything going in the afternoon session, falling in straight sets to Northwestern Oklahoma State. It was the first time the Rangers have ever defeated FHSU, making the all-time series 13-1.
Fort Hays State picked up three more kills than the Rangers (41 to 38), but the Tigers recorded 28 errors in the loss. FHSU recorded a .102 attack percentage, its second-lowest outing of the season. The Rangers countered by swinging at a .255 clip.
Magan Alexander was the lone Tiger to reach double figures in kills, leading the match with 14 kills. Amirah Bentley tossed up a match-high 35 assists while Taylor White led the team with 15 digs. Tatum Bartels and Callie Christensen both picked up three blocks in the loss.
NWOSU used a pair of big runs to steal the opening set, scoring six-straight points to get back into the set and tallying the final five points in the frame to secure a 25-21 win.
Fort Hays State once again kept things close in the second set, forcing five lead changes and nine ties. A Ranger service error tied things up at 21, but NWOSU scored the next four points to take the set, 25-21.
Three kills from Sydney Dixon and a service ace from Bartels helped the Tigers move in front 6-3 in the third set, ultimately leading by as many as five, 14-9. The Rangers rallied back to tie the match, but the Tigers seemed to have an answer each time. Alexander picked up a kill to put FHSU in front 20-19, but NWOSU went on to score the next six points to put the match on ice, 25-20.