EDMOND, Okla. – Despite collecting 11 team blocks, the Fort Hays State volleyball team was unable to slow the powerful No. 9 Central Oklahoma offense, falling in straight sets Friday inside Hamilton Field House (18-25, 14-25, 20-25). The Tigers fall to 8-10 overall and 0-4 in MIAA play, while the Bronchos are now 17-1 and 4-0 in conference action after earning their eighth-straight sweep.

The Tigers were limited to a .100 attack percentage while UCO countered with a .274 swing rate. Fort Hays State picked up four more blocks than the Bronchos, 11-7, but the home team held an edge in every other statistical category.

Callie Christensen led the Tigers with 10 kills, recording just two errors to accumulate a .381 attack percentage while adding five blocks (one solo) defensively. Kylie Rollman chipped in seven kills and seven blocks (one solo), posting a .385 swing rate. Taylor White totaled a match-high 18 digs in the loss.

The Bronchos ran away with the first set when they scored nine consecutive points, turning a 4-3 deficit into a 12-4 lead. The Tigers scored four in a row late in the set to close within 22-18, but UCO finished things off by winning the next three rallies. It was more of the same in the second set as the Bronchos used 12-1 run to jump in front by double figures, 17-6.

Fort Hays State didn’t go down without a fight, forcing 10 ties and six lead changes in the third set. UCO scored the first three points in the frame, but the Tigers went on a 5-1 run to jump in front 7-6. FHSU led by as many as two, 9-7, before the Bronchos rallied to retake the lead, 11-9. The momentum quickly shifted once again, with the Tigers grabbing the next three points to move back in front, 12-11. The Tigers led as late as 16-15 before UCO finished the match with a 10-4 run, taking the final set 25-20. It was only the second time this conference season that a UCO opponent has reached 20 points in a set.

The Tigers wrap up the weekend Saturday when they travel to Pittsburg State for a 6 p.m. contest.