ADA, Okla. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team cruised to a straight-set victory against East Central Thursday evening (Sept. 14), opening a five-match weekend in Oklahoma. FHSU improved to 5-5 on the year, while East Central dipped to 3-6 overall. It was the first match under interim head coach Brandi Fairbank, who moves to 1-0 in her head coaching career.
The Black and Gold posted a .219 attack percentage while holding ECU to a .081 swing rate. FHSU put things on ice by swinging at a .441 clip in the final set, picking up 18 kills to just three errors.
Magan Alexander matched her career-high with 12 kills, leading the way with a .400 attack percentage. Kylie Rollman also reached double figures in kills, adding 10 kills and two blocks. Kailey Klibbe picked up a match-high three service aces, also chipping in eight digs.
East Central grabbed an early 5-1 lead in the first set, but FHSU bounced back with Tatum Bartels serving the team to seven-straight points. ECU kept things close for the majority of the set, but Fort Hays State secured the opening set victory with a 7-2 run after leading 18-17, capped off by a kill from Sydney Dixon.
The teams traded points to open the second set, with neither side leading by more than two until FHSU scored four in a row to jump in front 9-6. The Black and Gold would lead the rest of the way, fending off multiple ECU runs with a block or a big kill. Ultimately, Rollman secured the 25-21 set victory with a kill on a pass from Taylor White.
Fort Hays State came out on a mission in the third set, jumping out to a quick 11-4 lead behind a six-point run. Azlyn Cassaday picked up two service aces in the stretch and Madison Elwood added two of her seven kills to open the string of FHSU points. ECU used a 5-1 run to close as close as four points down, 20-16, but Fort Hays State scored the final five points of the match to capture set three, 25-16.
FHSU returns to action Friday (Sept. 15) when it travels to Bethany, Okla. to begin play in the MIAA-GAC Crossover. The Tigers will face off with Southwest Oklahoma State at noon before going up against Northwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m.