Fort Hays State fell to No. 3 ranked Washburn on Tuesday evening in Topeka, Kan., but did not go without a fight as they fell by a score of 3-1. FHSU knotted up the match with a 25-23 win in the second set, but Washburn was too much in the late going of the third and fourth sets denying the upset-minded Tigers.
After Washburn rolled in the first set 25-13, FHSU stepped up its defensive play at the net recording six of its 11 total team blocks on the night in the second set. That coupled with eight other unforced hitting errors by the Lady Blues was the recipe for the Tigers knotting up the match one set each. Jenna Ulrich had a hand in five of the blocks in that set, four assisted and one solo.
FHSU fell behind big in the third set at 13-4, but nearly found a way to climb back into the set. Trailing 22-16, the Tigers made a four-point run at the Lady Blues to get within two, but the Lady Blues closed out the set with three straight points.
FHSU looked to be in position to possibly force the fifth and decisive set by leading 10-7 early in the fourth, but Washburn made a quick run to tie the set at 10-10. Up 16-15 on FHSU, Washburn closed out the match by going on a 9-1 run to move to 26-1 overall and 12-1 in the MIAA. The loss for FHSU puts its record at 23-11 overall and 7-8 in the MIAA.
Madison Schwartz had a big night for the Tigers on the outside, putting down a season and career-high 21 kills. It was the first time a Tiger posted 20 or more kills in a match this year. She finished with a double-double, adding 14 digs. Ulrich was near a double-double with nine kills and nine blocks.
Kayla Zogleman, who reached 1,000 assists for the season in the five-set win against Pittsburg State on Sunday, had 39 assists. Makenzie Wienman, who reached 500 digs for the season against Pittsburg State on Sunday, led FHSU in digs with 19.
Marissa Cox finished with 15 kills for Washburn, followed by Jessica Fey and Jessica Kopp each with 13. Abby Wittman had 45 assists and Hillary Hughes and Courtney Churchman tied with a team-high 15 digs for the Lady Blues.
Fort Hays State gets the rest of the week off before playing its final two regular season matches next week, starting on the road at Emporia State on Tuesday. FHSU closes out the regular season at the end of that week with Central Missouri on Saturday.
– FHSU Sports Information –