PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team picked up its first conference win of the season Saturday (Sept. 30), knocking off Pittsburg State in four sets (25-27, 25-19, 27-25, 25-22). The Tigers improve to 9-10 overall and 1-4 in conference play, while the Gorillas are now 3-14 on the year and 0-5 in the MIAA.
The Tigers totaled a .196 hitting percentage in the victory while limiting PSU to a .152 swing rate. FHSU also held a 10-8 advantage in blocks. Magan Alexander paced the team with 15 kills, with Callie Christensen adding 11 and Logan Wallick also reaching double figures with 10. Christensen matched Alexander with 15 points to lead the team after adding six blocks (two solo). Becca Page led the team with 25 assists while Taylor White recorded a team-high 18 digs.
The teams went back and forth in the early going before FHSU put together six-straight points to go in front 14-9. The Tigers later built the lead as high as nine, 21-12, but the Gorillas bounced back to score 10 of the next 11 points to tie things up at 22-22. The home team completed the incredible comeback by closing the set on a 5-2 run, winning the opening frame 27-25.
Fort Hays State never trailed in the second set, jumping in front 9-4 to force a Gorilla timeout. The Tigers kept the pressure on out of the huddle, scoring five of the next seven points to build the lead to eight, 14-6. The Gorillas closed as close as five, 22-17, but a kill from Christensen gave the Tigers a 25-19 victory and sent the teams into the locker room tied up at one.
Both teams went on several big runs in the third set, with the Tigers ultimately coming out on top to take a commanding 2-1 lead in the match. PSU scored five in a row early in the frame to go up 6-1 before the Tigers rallied to tie things up at 7-7. The Gorillas went back up by two, but FHSU once again responded with five consecutive points to grab a 14-11 lead. The Tigers led by as many as four, 19-15, before reaching set point, 24-21. The Gorillas fought off three-straight set points to tie things up, ultimately taking the lead to end a four-point run. Thankfully the Tigers had one final run in them, capturing the next three rallies to win the set on a kill from Wallick.
Fort Hays State was in control for the entirety of the fourth set, trailing only once by just one point. The teams traded points early on before PSU took a momentary 7-6 lead, followed quickly by three straight points for the Tigers. FHSU would lead for the remainder of the set, ultimately securing the match with a 25-22 victory. The Tigers built their lead up to six, 19-13, thanks to four consecutive points. As was the theme all night, Pittsburg State would not go away quietly, using an 8-3 run to close within one, 22-21. The Black and Gold secured the next two points to reach match point before Alexander sealed the victory with a kill two rallies later.
The Tigers are set to return to Gross Memorial Coliseum for a four-match homestand beginning Friday (Oct. 6) when FHSU will host Missouri Western at 6 p.m.