The Fort Hays State University softball team is excited to announce the early-signing period commitments of five individuals for 2014-15.

Mackenzie Villarreal, of Loveland, Colo., is the younger sister of current Tiger Samantha Villarreal, and reigns from Loveland, Colo. Mackenzie played at Bearthoud High School and is an infield/outfield utilitiy player.

“Mackenzie will add a great amount of power, enthusiasm and unexpected speed to our line up,” head coach Erin Kinberger “She is a utility player and we look forward to having the Villarreal sisters together again at Tiger Stadium.”

Savannah Price, from O’Fallon, Mo., played ball at Timberland High School as a pitcher.

“Savannah will join our battery next year; her understanding of spin and movement and strong presence will be a huge asset to the circle,” Kinberger said.

Gabrielle “Gabby” Sandoval reigns from Wichita, Kan., and played at Valley Center High School as a utility player.

“Gabby’s versatility, power, and speed will be a great addition to the team,” Kinberger said. “She fits the mold of Tiger Softball through her aggressive play and love for the game.”

Veronica “Ronnie” Knittig, from Barnhart, Mo., is a senior at Seckman High School. Knittig will serve as a utility infielder with the Tigers.

“Ronnie is a solid player who caught my addition through her hustle and all-out play,” Kinberger said. “We look forward to her bringing that with her and motivating everyone around her.”

Harmony Clipperton, from Blue Springs South High School in Blue Springs, Mo., comes to the Tigers as a catcher.

“Harmony will be representing Tiger Softball from behind the dish next year and she is a fundamentally sound player with a lot of potential to be a difference maker in our program,” Kinberger said.

Fort Hays State is coming off an impressive season that saw the team go 47-12 en route to a berth in the NCAA Central Regional.

— FHSU Sports Information —

Fort Hays State held Sterling College scoreless for the first 4:40 Saturday afternoon, racing out to a 16-0 lead as they move to 7-0 with a 95-64 win at Gross Coliseum.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Ochoki Moikobu Postgame Interview

The Tigers shoot 66-percent in the first half and finish a season-best 58-percent for the game and dish out 22 assists with only five turnovers.

Game Highlights

Craig Nicholson led five Tigers in double-figures with 17 points and nine assists. Achoki Moikobu added 16, James Fleming 15, Dwayne Brunson 14 and Andrew Victoria 10.

Fort Hays State scored 23 unanswered points during an eight minute stretch of the first half, part of a 36-6 run that saw them build a 27-point lead and defeat the Tabor Bluejays 86-51 Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum. The victory improves the Lady Tigers to 5-0 while Tabor falls to 3-6.

Tabor hit three early three-pointers and held a brief four-point lead early in the game before the Tigers clamped down defensively and went on the big run. The Bluejays did score the final seven points of the first half and trailed 42-22 at the break.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Kate Edwards recorded her second straight double-double, leading the Tigers with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Kate Edwards added 15 points and Chelsea Mason and added 11.

The Tigers shoot 51-percent from the floor despite hitting just four of their 17 three-point tries. FHSU outrebounded the smaller Bluejays  by 14.

Just before its victory over Rockhurst University on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 26), the NABC released its latest version of the Division II Top 25 Poll. Fort Hays State jumped five spots to No. 20 after sitting at No. 25 in the first regular season poll of the season.

The Tigers are now the highest ranked school from the MIAA after Northeastern State dropped 11 spots to No. 21 following its first loss of the season. Fort Hays State went 2-0 last week with home wins over Newman and Oklahoma-Panhandle State and has kicked off this week’s action with a 72-48 win over Rockhurst in Kansas City at the Sprint Center.

Fort Hays State closes out Thanksgiving week with a home game against Sterling College on Saturday (Nov. 30) at 4 pm.

Below is the Top 25 poll for Tuesday, November 26…

1. Metropolitan State (Colo.) 2-0 398 (14 first place votes)
2. West Liberty (W.Va.) 4-0 379 (1 first place vote)
3. Bellarmine (Ky.) 2-0 370 (1 first place vote)
4. Drury (Mo.) 3-0 343
5. Florida Southern 5-0 318
6. Midwestern State (Texas) 4-0 308
7. Western Washington 3-0 289
8. Findlay (Ohio) 3-0 277
9. Seattle Pacific (Wash.) 6-1 261
10. Indiana (Pa.) 4-0 257
11. Minnesota State 5-1 230
12. Dixie State (Utah) 4-0 229
13. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) 4-0 210
14. Southern Indiana 2-0 185
15. Livingstone (N.C.) 4-0 143
16. Montevallo (Ala.) 4-0 138
17. Tarleton State (Texas) 4-0 108
18. Fort Lewis (Colo.) 2-0 106
19. Alaska-Anchorage 5-1 103
20. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 5-0 99
21. Northeastern State (Okla.) 4-1 87
22. North Alabama 4-1 72
23. East Stroudsburg (Pa.) 6-0 40
24. Colorado School of Mines 3-0 33
25. Arkansas-Fort Smith 5-0 25

-FHSU Sports Information-

The Fort Hays State Lady Tigers had six players score in double figures Tuesday night on their way to a 114-86 win over the Newman Jets.

Fort Hays led by five at 16-11 just over five minutes into the game when they went on a 14-0 run and led by 19, 30-11. Taylor Chandler scored eight of her 12 points during that run, including back-to-back three pointers.

The Tigers continued to build and their lead in the first half and led by 32 late in the first half and grabbed a 63-33 lead at the half. FHSU shot 76.5% in the first half and shot 58.8% for the game.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Katelyn Edwards and Tera Ingalsbe led the team with 18 points apiece, followed by Kate Lehman and Beth Bohuslavsky both finished with 17.  Chelsea Mason chipped in 14 and Taylor Chandler finished with 12. Lehman also pulled down 14 rebounds and had six blocks for the Tigers.

The 200 combined points set a new school record for single-game scoring by both opponents, breaking the previous combined record of 195 set in 1986.  FHSU’s 114 points was just two shy of the individual game record of 116, set in 2006.

Fort Hays is now 4-0 on the season and they will host Tabor College on Saturday afternoon.

Game Highlights

Fort Hays State University had seven athletes named to the 2013 Daktronics NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer All-Central Region Team, announced Monday.

Tanner Brock, Diego Cabral, Eric Hymer and Ricardo Yeverino were named First Team. Three other Tigers, Jason Babyak, Michael Cole and Daniel Peralta were honored as second team.

The Tigers finished the 2013 season with a school record 12 wins and reached the semifinals of the Super Regional in the NCAA Tournament.

The complete 2013 Daktronics NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer All-Central Region Team is below…

— FHSU Sports Information —

The Fort Hays State scored the games first seven points, building an 18-point halftime lead then pulled away late to defeat Oklahoma-Panhandle State 98-74 Saturday at Gross Coliseum. The victory improves the 25th-ranked Tigers to 5-0 while the Aggies fall to 0-5.

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Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Carson Konrade led the way with a career-high 26 points. The Spearville senior was 8-for-14 from the field including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc and hit all five of his free throw attempts. Dwayne Brunson recorded his third straight double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Craig Nicholson added 11 points and Jared Tadlock 10.

Carson Konrade Postgame Interview

The Tigers shoot 53-percent for the game including 10-of-20 from beyond the arc and were 20-of-23 from the free throw line. They outrebounded the Aggies by 19.

Game Highlights

FHSU is back in action Tuesday against Rockhurst at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Second-seeded Fort Hays State University fell, 1-0, to first-seeded Lindenwood in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Central Region Championship on Friday (Nov. 22).

The Tigers finish the season at 12-5-3, while LU moves to 15-0-2 and will take on the winner of the Midwest Regional on Sunday.

FHSU fired 17 shots in the game, including 15 in the second stanza, but couldn’t break through the Lions’ defense.  A total of eight Tigers launched shots on the night, led by Diego Cabral with six shots (one on goal) on the night. Ricardo Yeverino added three shots (one on goal).

Jason Babyak played all 90 minutes, notching one save.

After a scoreless first half, LU’s Ignacio Romero found the net on a chip shot at 51:08 to give the Lions a lead.

In the final 10 minutes of the game, FHSU fired three shots, including an opposite net attempt from Yeverino that sailed just inches right of the post at 82:21.

The Tigers’ 12 wins in 2013 were a school record as the team has now competed in the NCAA Tournament each year it has been eligible (2012 and 2013).  FHSU was ranked as high as No. 14 on the season by the NSCAA and had seven athletes named All-MIAA.

— FHSU Sports Information —

Fort Hays State volleyball had four All-MIAA selections for 2013, as Taylor Mares, Makenzie Weinman, Jenna Ulrich and Mallory Flagor were named honorable mention.

Mares, a junior from Fort Collins, Colo., led the team in kills (290) and kills per set (2.74), playing in 106 sets on the year. The right-side hitter started in 22 of the 30 matches, racking up a .219 hitting percentage while adding 61 blocks and 53 digs. Her 322 points (3.04per set) were also a team-high. Mares has now earned All-MIAA honorable mention honors for two consecutive seasons (2012 and 2013)

From Phillipsburg, Kan., Weinman led the squad with 500 digs on the season, narrowly missing out on reaching the 1,500 dig mark for her career. The senior libero average 4.90 digs per set and had 16 service aces. Weinman appeared in all 30 matches, playing 102 sets. This is the second straight honorable mention selection for Weinman after she nabbed the honors in 2012.

Ulrich led the team with 143 blocks (1.32 per set) from the middle hitter slot, adding 206 kills with a .229 hitting percentage. The senior from Luray, Kan., broke the school’s career block record for the NCAA Division II era during 2013, finishing with 438 for her career. Ulrich notched 293.5 points for the season, averaging 2.72 points per set. This is Ulrich’s third All-MIAA honor; she was second-team in 2012 and honorable mention in 2011.

Flagor totaled 243 kills while playing in 98 sets this season. The sophomore from Hoisington, Kan., started in six of her 29 matches, averaging 2.48 kills per set and blocking 59 total attacks (five solo). The right-side hitter racked up 275 points for the Tigers this season and had a .165 hitting percentage.

Mares and Flagor return for the Tigers in 2014.

— FHSU Sports Information —

The complete All-MIAA teams are below…

Player of the Year: Julia Bates, S, Central Missouri
Freshman of the Year: Madison Mosier, RS, Pittsburg State
Coach of the Year: Flip Piontek, Central Missouri

1st Team
Marissa Cox, RS, Washburn^
Taylor Goodness, OH, Central Missouri^
MJ Massanet, OH, Nebraska-Kearney
Erica Rottinghaus, OH, Missouri Western
Katie Sokolowski, MH, Nebraska-Kearney
Julia Bates, S, Central Missouri
Abby Wittman, S, Washburn
Annie Reilly, L, Central Missouri

2nd Team
Carly Sojka, OH, Central Missouri
Ashley Leitner, OH, Nebraska-Kearney
Haley Thompson, MH, Central Missouri
Paige Vanderpool, OH, Emporia State
Barbara Jackson, OH, Central Oklahoma
Erin Seele, S, Nebraska-Kearney
Tate Hardaker, L, Central Oklahoma
Kelsey Lewis, L, Washburn

3rd Team
Kayla Guyot, MH, Lindenwood
Madison Mosier, RS, Pittsburg State
Ellie Pesavento, MH, Nebraska-Kearney
Brooke Bartosh, RS, Northwest Missouri
Leanna Willer, OH, Washburn
Jordan Nedbalek, MH, Southwest Baptist
Hayley Hansford, S, Pittsburg State
Liz McGowan, L, Nebraska-Kearney

Honorable Mention
Central Missouri – Becca Blaise, RS; Maddie Jones, MH.
Central Oklahoma – Allison Barr, MH; Juliette Smith, MH.
Emporia State – Carly Spicer, MH; Courtney Haring, MH; Kelly Holden, L; Brianna Kaiser, OH; Katie Deutschmann, RS; McKenzie Pankratz, S.
Fort Hays State – Taylor Mares, RS; Makenzie Weinman L; Jenna Ulrich, MH; Mallory Flagor, RS. 
Lindenwood – Emma Brydels, S; Shannon Doyle, OH.
Missouri Southern – Katie Politte, OH.
Missouri Western – Kelsey Olion, RS; Amanda Boender, MH; Sarah Faubel, L.
Northwest Missouri – Abby Graves, OH; Mackie Keller, MH.
Pittsburg State – Paula Okrutna, MH; Jordan Rehm, L.
Southwest Baptist – Hannah Blount, L; Nikki Madoch, MH.
Washburn – Corrinne Stringer, OH; Sarah Vicory, MH.

Fort Hays State football coach Chris Brown held his final weekly press conference of the season following the Tigers 6-5 season.

Part 1

Part 2

The 25th-ranked Fort Hays State Tigers shot 61-percent in the first half including 8-of-11 from beyond the arc, building a 16-point lead then had to hold on in the second half to defeat the Newman Jets 96-87 Tuesday at Gross Coliseum. The victory improves FHSU to 4-0 while the Jets fall to 2-2.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Craig Nicholson Postgame Interview

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The Tigers used runs of 15-4 and 15-5 in the first 20 minutes and led by as many as 20. They led by 20 early in the second half but a 20-6 run by the Jets cut the lead to six midway through the second half. Up seven, Carson Konrade hit a three-pointer to push the lead back to 10 and the Jets wouldn’t get any closer than eight the rest of the way.

Game Highlights

The Tigers shoot 53-percent for the game including 11-of-22 from three-point range but hit just 3-of-11 from beyond the arc in the second half.

Dwayne Brunson led the Tigers with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Tomislav Gabric added 18 points and 10 boards. Carson Konrade was 4-for-8 from beyond the arc and scored 20 while Craig Nicholson added 11 points and a career-high 15 assists.

The Fort Hays State Lady Tigers closed the first half on a 15-0 run, building a 29-point halftime lead then opened the second half on a 9-2 run and defeat the Bethel Threshers 78-38 Tuesday night at Gross Coliseum. FHSU improves to 3-0 with the win. The Threshers fall to 2-3.

Tony Hobson Interview

Game Highlights

Kate Edwards led three Tigers in double-figures with 16 points and 12 rebounds, her second double-double of the season. Taylor Chandler and Tera Inglesbee both added 12 points.

Fort Hays State struggled from perimeter, hitting just 3-of-22 from beyond the arc (1-11 in the second half), and held a slight three rebound advantage.

After a one-year absence from the NABC Division II National Poll, Fort Hays State men’s basketball returns to the rankings with a 3-0 start to the 2013-14 season. The Tigers are ranked No. 25 in the first NABC regular season poll. FHSU received votes in the preseason poll.

Fort Hays State opened up the season with a pair of quality wins in Minnesota against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams Southwest Minnesota State and Upper Iowa. Upper Iowa made the NCAA Tournament last year. FHSU then went on the road this past Saturday and defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State, a team that tied for the Great American Conference regular season championship last year.

This is the first appearance for the Tigers in the poll since January 24, 2012, when it was ranked No. 23 before dipping out of the poll for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

The Tigers have a pair of home games against Division II competition this week in Newman on Tuesday and Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Saturday.

FHSU and Northeastern State (No. 10) are the only two schools from the MIAA currently referenced in the poll.

Below are the rankings for Tuesday, November 19.