HAYS, Kan. – Despite putting up a strong fight in the opening set, the Fort Hays State volleyball team fell in straight sets against No. 25 Washburn Saturday evening (Sept. 23). The Tigers are now 8-8 overall and 0-2 in MIAA play, while the Ichabods jump to 10-4 this season and 1-1 in league play.
The Tigers hit .208 in the opening set, but struggled in the next two frames to finish the match with a .113 attack percentage. The Ichabods countered with a .310 swing rate, their best match of the season to date. Errors were the difference in the match, with FHSU making 23 miscues to Washburn’s 13.
No Tiger reached double figures in kills, with Sydney Dixon and Callie Christensen leading the way with eight kills each. Tatum Bartels had a strong day in the middle, totaling seven kills and a team-best .333 swing percentage to go along with two blocks (one solo). Christensen led the match with four blocks, including a career-best three solo blocks for the second night in a row. Amirah Bentley tossed up 31 assists while adding three kills, three digs and one block. Abbie Hayes recorded a team-high 11 digs.
Fort Hays State had three chances to secure the opening frame, but the Ichabod defense repeatedly prevented the Tigers from capturing that final point. Washburn led by as many as three early in the set, but a 6-2 run from the Tigers put them in front 13-12. The teams traded points for the remainder of the frame, with neither side leading by more than two. A kill from Magan Alexander brought the Tigers to set point, 24-23, but the Ichabods tied things up after a blocking error. Azlyn Cassaday then gave FHSU another chance to take the set with a kill, but WU once again bounced back. Christensen threw down a big kill to make the score 26-25, but the Ichabods responded by scoring three-straight points to steal the set and the momentum, 28-26.
The Tigers kept things close to open the second set, but a 9-1 run in the heart of the frame put the Ichabods in prime position, 20-14. Fort Hays State did not have an answer this time around, dropping the second set 25-17. The Ichabods kept their foot on the gas in the third set, leading wire-to-wire to complete the sweep, 25-16. WU scored the first five points in the final frame, leading to a quick 9-2 lead. The Tigers closed within three, 10-7, thanks to four-consecutive points, but another long run from the visitors put FHSU behind by double digits, 19-9.
Fort Hays State wraps up a three-game homestand Tuesday (Sept. 26) when fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney makes the trip to Hays for a 6 p.m. match inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.