Sterling came out of the gates red hot, but the FHSU weathered the storm to eventually defeat the Warriors 81-66 on Saturday (Nov. 26) at Gross Coliseium. Sterling led by six midway through the first half, but FHSU stormed back with a 19-4 run to take control and eventually lead by seven at halftime. They kept the Warriors at arm’s length in the second half to secure the win to move to 5-0 on the year.

Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field in the first half. Fort Hays State was just a smidge better at 53.8 percent, compared to 52.4 percent for Sterling. Karron McKenzie (13 points) and Kendrick Morse (10 points) did the most damage for FHSU in the first half, scoring over half of the team’s 40 points in the opening frame. Trenton Stutzman was red hot from beyond the 3-point line for Sterling and had all 16 of his points in the first half on perfect shooting from the field with four makes beyond the arc.

McKenzie went on to finish with a career-high 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field. He was perfect at the free-throw line, 3-of-3. Morse and Tyrone Phillips each finished with 15 points. Morse finished with a team-high five assists. Markus Yarbrough added 10 off the bench.

The Tigers scorched the nets in the second half, shooting 65.4 percent from the field to finish at 59.6 percent for the game. Sterling finished at 47.1 percent from the field, but 55.6 percent beyond the 3-point line (10-of-18) to stay in the game.

Fort Hays State comes right back on Sunday (Nov. 27) to host Baker University at 3 pm, which closes out non-conference play.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview
johnson interview1
johnson interview2 

Jason Ball Postgame Interview
player interview (ball) 

Game Highlights
men highlights 

The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team continued their hot start to the 2011-12 season with a 95-61 victory over Bethel College (Kan.) on Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum. Three players for FHSU scored in double figures, with twelve scoring total, as the Lady Tigers won their sixth consecutive game to open the year. It is the second time in the last three years that Fort Hays State has started a season 6-0, but only the third time in school history.

Fort Hays State jumped out early to a lead over the Threshers and never trailed the entire game. Led by 16 first half points from Melissa Nelson, the Lady Tigers would double up Bethel by a score of 56-28 at halftime. Nelson was held to just three points in the second half but tied with Katelyn Edwards by scoring a game-high 19 points. Kaiameka Brown added 13 points for the Lady Tigers, who shot 50.7% (37-73) from the field. Edwards also led the team with seven rebounds while Crista Bechard had a season-high six assists for the second time this season.

Bethel College, who counted the game as an exhibition and remains 3-3 on the season, was led by 13 points from Melissa Irwin and 10 from Jordan Blanson. Taylor Durant pulled down a game-high nine rebounds for the Threshers and helped them tie FHSU for the game with 41 rebounds. What did Bethel in was their 29 turnovers, which included 16 Tiger steals.

Fort Hays State is now 6-0 on the season as they head into MIAA conference play. The Lady Tigers travel to Jefferson City, Mo. on Wednesday evening for a 5:30 pm matchup against Lincoln.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Tony Hobson Post Game Interview
tony hobson post

Game Highlights
women’s highlights

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) released its 2011 All-MIAA Volleyball selections on Thursday (Nov. 17). Fort Hays State senior libero Tracie Hileman was named to the third team while freshmen Sara Hewson and Kylee Hoagland along with sophomores Madison Schwartz and Jenna Ulrich were honorable mention selections.
 
Hileman earns the first All-MIAA honor of her career after leading the Tigers in digs with 653 for an average of 5.18 per set, which ranked third in the MIAA. The senior from Tonganoxie, Kan., finished her career third all-time in Fort Hays State’s Division II history in digs with 1,657.
 
Hewson, a native of Loveland, Colo., missed part of the season with a leg injury but still managed a solid freshman year, finishing with 227 kills and 28 service aces. Despite missing time, she still ranked third on the team in digs with 281, an average of 2.87 per set.
 
Hoagland teamed with Hewson to lead a strong freshman class for the Tigers. Hoagland, who hails from Mead, Colo., was third on the team in kills with 302 and second in blocks with 85. FHSU has now had three freshmen earn All-MIAA honors in the past two seasons.
 
Schwartz, a sophomore from Lincoln, Neb., earns All-MIAA honorable mention honors for the second straight season after leading the team in kills in 2011 with 308. Schwartz also added 126 digs and 34 blocks for the Tigers.
 
Ulrich earned her first all-conference nod following a breakout sophomore campaign. Ulrich, a Luray, Kan. native, was the only Tiger to start all 33 matches in 2011 and she finished the year ranking second on the team with 303 kills while leading the Tigers in hitting percentage (.259) and blocks (137). Her 137 blocks ranked her fourth in the MIAA and was the sixth-best mark in a single season in school history.
 
Below is a full list of the 2011 All-MIAA Awards:
 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Allie Huffman, Sr., OH, Central Missouri

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Katie Deutschmann, S, Emporia State

COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Herron, Washburn

FIRST TEAM
OH: Allie Huffman, Sr., Central Missouri**
MH: Paula Harris, Sr., Central Missouri** [r1]
OPP: Breanna Lewis, Sr., Washburn
S: Julia Bates, So., Central Missouri
MH: Megan Sharpe, Jr., Truman [r1]
OH: Hillary Hughes, Jr., Washburn
MH: Mollie Lacy, Sr., Washburn [r1][r1]
L: Meg Schwartz, Jr., Emporia State
**Unanimous Selection
[r1] – Repeat first team selection from last season
[r1][r1] – Repeat first team selection from the last two seasons

SECOND TEAM
S: Katie Deutschmann, Fr., Emporia State
MH: Jessica Fey, Jr., Washburn
MH: Bradye Peniston, Jr., Central Missouri
L: Taylor Krejci, Sr., Central Missouri
S: Laira Akin, Sr., Northwest Missouri
S: Abby Wittman, So., Washburn
OH: Paige Vanderpool, So., Emporia State
L: Abby Moser, Fr., Truman

THIRD TEAM
OH: Tahler Johnston, Sr., Missouri Western
OH: Morgan Voorhes, Fr., Pittsburg State
L: Tracie Hileman, Sr., Fort Hays State
MH: Courtney Haring, Fr., Emporia State
OH/MH: Rachel Olinyk, Sr., Missouri Southern
OH: Britni Reed, So., Southwest Baptist
OH: Taylor Goodness, So., Central Missouri
S: Stephanie Hattey, So., Missouri Western

HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Kelsey Ortwerth, Sr., RS

Emporia State: Brianna Kaiser, So., OH

Fort Hays State: Jenna Ulrich, So., MH; Madison Schwartz, So., OH/RS; Kylee Hoagland, Fr., MH; Sara Hewson, Fr., OH

Missouri Western: Shelby Corkill, Fr., OH; Alex Behnke, Sr., MB

Northwest Missouri: Amy Majors, So., MH

Pittsburg State: Christa McCaw, So., L; Lauren Brentlinger, So., MB; Brooke Fay, Jr., M

Southwest Baptist: Kylie Heim, Sr., RS; Carrie Johnson, Jr., M; Kristi Hager, Jr., L

Truman: Allie Brak, Fr., OH; Kylie Easlon, Sr., S; Emily Briseno, Jr., MB