FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State volleyball was picked 10th in the MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released Wednesday (Aug. 13) by the league. The Tigers are slotted one spot above their finish last season, when FHSU was 14-19 overall, finishing 11th in the MIAA.
FHSU is one year removed from a 20-win season, going 23-14 in 2012, and will look to return to that level with a roster of 12 returners and 16 new faces. Two of those returners, rightside hitters Mallory Flagor and Taylor Mares, were All-MIAA selections last year. Other key outside hitters for the Tigers include senior Sarah Hewson, who was All-MIAA in 2010, and sophomore Haley Corkill, who impressed in limited playing time last season.
In the middle, Rebekah Spainhour and Rachel Szxzepanski played in a limited role last year, and will be pushed from freshman Mikalah Hughes, Callie Christensen and Halle Connally.
Two returners (Raegan Vanderplas and Libby Ary) will compete for the starting setter role alongside newcomers Kristin Conor, a sophomore transfer from Cincinnati, and Bethany Farres, a junior transfer from Johnson County Community College.
Keanu Bradley is the lone defensive specialist returning to the team, though transfers Sarah Williams, a junior from Fort Scott Community College, and sophomore Rebecca Guevara of Hill College will be among the newcomers fighting for a spot.
Kelsey Broadwell (utility) and Chelsea Payne (libero/outside hitter) will see time by playing multiple roles for the Tigers in 2014.
The top five in the preseason poll match last year’s standings, as Central Missouri was picked first with 115 votes and six first-place tallies, just ahead of Washburn’s 110 votes (four first-place). Nebraska-Kearney had two first-place votes and 108 total points, creating a separation of just seven points for the top three schools. From there, a falloff in points leads to Central Oklahoma in fourth (86 points).
Three Kansas schools sit ranked Nos. 5-7, with Emporia State in fifth (76 points), Missouri Western (68 points) and Pittsburg State (59 points) just ahead of Northwest Missouri State (55 points). Lindenwood was ranked just ahead of FHSU, with four points separating the pair (42 and 39 votes, respectively). Missouri Southern and Southwest Baptist fill out the remaining spots.
The complete 2014 MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll is below…
2014 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (6) 115
2. Washburn (4) 110
3. Nebraska-Kearney (2) 108
4. Central Oklahoma 86
5. Emporia State 76
6. Missouri Western 68
7. Pittsburg State 59
8. Northwest Missouri 55
9. Lindenwood 42
10. Fort Hays State 38
11. Missouri Southern 18
12. Southwest Baptist 17