BETHANY, Okla. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team opened play in the MIAA/GAC Crossover with a split Friday (Sept. 15), rallying to defeat Southwestern Oklahoma State before falling to Northwestern Oklahoma State in the evening session. The Tigers are now 6-6 on the year, while the Bulldogs fell to 4-9 after two losses and the Rangers improved to 7-5 with a pair of wins.

Magan Alexander led the Tigers offensively in both matches, picking up 34 kills on the day. Amirah Bentley tossed up 87 assists between the two matches while adding 27 digs. Taylor White led the team with 32 digs on the day.

The Tigers are set to wrap up their early season non-conference schedule Saturday (Sept. 16) when they face off against Oklahoma Baptist at 10 a.m. and tournament-host Southern Nazarene at 6 p.m.

Fort Hays State 3, Southwestern Oklahoma State 2 (11-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-17, 15-12)
Despite a slow start, the Tigers rallied from a two-set deficit to knock off Southwestern Oklahoma State in a thrilling five-set match. It is the fifth time that FHSU has gone the distance this season, matching its total from all of last season. The Tigers are now 4-1 in five-set contests this year.

The Tigers went to Magan Alexander early and often, with the sophomore picking up 20 kills on 48 swings. Her 20 kills match the most in a match for a Tiger so far this season. Kylie Rollman added 14 kills, while Sydney Dixon also reached double figures with 11. Amirah Bentley had a busy afternoon, leading the team with 52 assists and 22 digs.

SWOSU outhit (.254 to .177) and outblocked (seven to three) the Tigers in the match, but FHSU held an advantage in service aces (seven to two) and kills (65 to 63).

Fort Hays State struggled out of the gate, losing the first set 25-11 and falling behind early in the second frame. The Tigers began to regroup in the second set, trading points with the Bulldogs all game, leading to 15 ties and six lead changes. FHSU led as late as 20-19, but Southwestern Oklahoma State jumped back in front to reach set point, 24-23. The Tigers tied things up at 24 to hold off one set point, but the Bulldogs recorded the next two points to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

The teams traded punches in the third set, with neither side leading by more than four until the Tigers put together three-straight points to win the match, 25-21. A kill from Alexander returned serve to the Tigers at 23-21. White proceeded to record back-to-back aces to win the set and keep the Tigers alive in the match.

After falling behind 2-0 early in the fourth set, FHSU captured five of the next six points to take a 5-3 lead and never trailed again in the match. Bentley recorded a kill and a service ace to spark another 5-1 run for the Tigers, this time giving the Tigers a 25-17 victory in the set and forcing a deciding fifth set.

The Tigers put their foot on the gas to start the fifth set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead after Tatum Bartels delivered a strong kill. FHSU stretched the lead to six with a block from Callie Christensen and Alexander, but SWOSU scored the next four points to close within two. Interim head coach Brandi Fairbank called a timeout to regroup, helping the Tigers put away the set and the match with a 15-12 victory.

Northwestern Oklahoma State 3, Fort Hays State 0 (21-25, 21-25, 20-25)
The Tigers couldn’t get anything going in the afternoon session, falling in straight sets to Northwestern Oklahoma State. It was the first time the Rangers have ever defeated FHSU, making the all-time series 13-1.

Fort Hays State picked up three more kills than the Rangers (41 to 38), but the Tigers recorded 28 errors in the loss. FHSU recorded a .102 attack percentage, its second-lowest outing of the season. The Rangers countered by swinging at a .255 clip.

Magan Alexander was the lone Tiger to reach double figures in kills, leading the match with 14 kills. Amirah Bentley tossed up a match-high 35 assists while Taylor White led the team with 15 digs. Tatum Bartels and Callie Christensen both picked up three blocks in the loss.

NWOSU used a pair of big runs to steal the opening set, scoring six-straight points to get back into the set and tallying the final five points in the frame to secure a 25-21 win.

Fort Hays State once again kept things close in the second set, forcing five lead changes and nine ties. A Ranger service error tied things up at 21, but NWOSU scored the next four points to take the set, 25-21.

Three kills from Sydney Dixon and a service ace from Bartels helped the Tigers move in front 6-3 in the third set, ultimately leading by as many as five, 14-9. The Rangers rallied back to tie the match, but the Tigers seemed to have an answer each time. Alexander picked up a kill to put FHSU in front 20-19, but NWOSU went on to score the next six points to put the match on ice, 25-20.

SEATTLE – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team took a heartbreaking loss Thursday evening (Sept. 14), falling to Seattle Pacific in the final minute of the second overtime period, 2-1. The Tigers dip to 0-4-1 on the season with the loss, while the Falcons improve to 4-1 overall.

The Tiger offense was aggressive in the first half for the second game in a row, with four different Tigers slipping through the defense for an opportunity to score. Four of the five shots FHSU attempted in the opening half were off the mark, but one was able to find the back of the net. The Tigers were on the board first after a corner kick from Luis Mendez found Derick Gonzalez just outside the six-yard box. Gonzalez delivered a perfect header just to the inside the left post to give the Tigers the early advantage in the 17th minute of the match. It was the senior’s team-leading second goal of the season.

The Falcons evened the match less than two minutes later when Mori Tsuchiya found the top shelf on a 12-yarder in the 19th minute. The equalizer was Tsuchiya’s third goal of the season to lead SPU.

Seattle Pacific controlled possession for the duration of the match after the break, limiting the Tigers to one shot in the second half and no shots in overtime. Meanwhile, the Falcons attempted two shots in the second half, four more in the first overtime and five in the second extra period. The Tigers were forced to play the final 22 minutes of regulation and overtime with 10 men after Abdoulaye Cisse received his second yellow card and was sent off in the 68th minute.

The Falcons appeared poised to steal the match in the first overtime, rifling off four shots over the final three minutes. The first attempt was blocked before Tiger goalie Alex Rodela made a diving save. Another SPU shot bounced off the post just seconds later before being cleared away by the Tiger defense. The Falcons had one final push in the period, but Rodela made another save with 16 seconds remaining on the clock.

The Tiger defense continued to feel the pressure in the second overtime period, keeping the Falcons at bay until they finally broke through with less than 30 seconds remaining in the match. After FHSU blocked a pair of shots and two more attempts sailed wide, Ryan Higgins picked up the golden goal off the left post from just in front of the net.

Rodela (0-1) made his first start of the season in goal, making two timely saves in the first overtime period to keep the score all square. They were the only two saves for either team in the match, with every other shot either finding the net or being off target. Gonzalez attempted two shots with Brian Ness, Arsenio Chamorro, Caden Frank and Paul Luna all adding one shot.

The Tigers are back in action Saturday (Sept. 16) as they travel to Bellingham, Wash., for a 9 p.m. (CT) kickoff with the Western Washington Vikings.

KEARNEY, Neb. – In their third-consecutive overtime match, the Tigers fell to Nebraska-Kearney 1-0 on a golden goal from Megan Cook for the Lopers. This is also the first loss of the season for Fort Hays State as they now sit at 2-1-2 on the year.

Both teams were scoreless heading into overtime, with this being six-straight halves the Tigers were held scoreless. Although the Tigers outshot the Lopers 8-5, Nebraska-Kearney came into the extra time with an offensive mind as they earned two-consecutive shots early in the extra time. It wasn’t until the 98:49 minute mark when Cook netted the winning goal for the Lopers.

In goal for the Tigers was Megan Kneefel who picked up her first loss of the season with three saves to her name in the match. Ali Hirschman collected the win behind the net for Nebraska-Kearney also with three individual saves.

The Tigers will be on the road for two more matches with a trip to Emporia State on Sunday (Sept. 17) slated for a 2 p.m. start.

ADA, Okla. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team cruised to a straight-set victory against East Central Thursday evening (Sept. 14), opening a five-match weekend in Oklahoma. FHSU improved to 5-5 on the year, while East Central dipped to 3-6 overall. It was the first match under interim head coach Brandi Fairbank, who moves to 1-0 in her head coaching career.

The Black and Gold posted a .219 attack percentage while holding ECU to a .081 swing rate. FHSU put things on ice by swinging at a .441 clip in the final set, picking up 18 kills to just three errors.

Magan Alexander matched her career-high with 12 kills, leading the way with a .400 attack percentage. Kylie Rollman also reached double figures in kills, adding 10 kills and two blocks. Kailey Klibbe picked up a match-high three service aces, also chipping in eight digs.

East Central grabbed an early 5-1 lead in the first set, but FHSU bounced back with Tatum Bartels serving the team to seven-straight points. ECU kept things close for the majority of the set, but Fort Hays State secured the opening set victory with a 7-2 run after leading 18-17, capped off by a kill from Sydney Dixon.

The teams traded points to open the second set, with neither side leading by more than two until FHSU scored four in a row to jump in front 9-6. The Black and Gold would lead the rest of the way, fending off multiple ECU runs with a block or a big kill. Ultimately, Rollman secured the 25-21 set victory with a kill on a pass from Taylor White.

Fort Hays State came out on a mission in the third set, jumping out to a quick 11-4 lead behind a six-point run. Azlyn Cassaday picked up two service aces in the stretch and Madison Elwood added two of her seven kills to open the string of FHSU points. ECU used a 5-1 run to close as close as four points down, 20-16, but Fort Hays State scored the final five points of the match to capture set three, 25-16.

FHSU returns to action Friday (Sept. 15) when it travels to Bethany, Okla. to begin play in the MIAA-GAC Crossover. The Tigers will face off with Southwest Oklahoma State at noon before going up against Northwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m.

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Volleyball head coach Kurt Kohler announced his resignation from his position at Fort Hays State on Thursday (Sept. 14) to accept the position of Athletic Director at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska. Kohler was in his ninth season as head coach at FHSU and compiled 131 wins in his time at the helm, second-most in program history.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my eight years at Fort Hays State,” said Kohler. “I’ve had the honor of coaching so many incredible young ladies, and I have become a much better person because they have been a part of my life. I will miss those relationships a lot.

“I want to thank Curtis Hammeke for entrusting me with this volleyball program. He has been a great leader, role model and friend to me through the years, and I appreciate the opportunity he gave me.

“This program was struggling when I started in 2009, but I always knew that with high character student athletes, we could build something special. I believe we have made huge strides in that process and have become a highly respected program. Although I’m extremely sad to leave FHSU and dislike the timing of my departure, I know I am leaving this program in better shape than when I started. I can’t wait to witness these current players and coaches take the next step of success.”

“Coach Kohler had an opportunity to transition his coaching career into athletic administration,” FHSU Director of Athletics Curtis Hammeke said. “I think all involved would prefer to see this take place at the end of the season, but the time frame for this opportunity would not allow that. He is a good man who will be missed. We wish him the best in the next stages of his career.”

Kohler led FHSU to 20 or more wins in a season three times in his tenure. The 25-9 performance by the 2016 Tigers was a new best under Kohler and he led the team to back-to-back 20-win seasons the last two years. He coached 28 All-MIAA selections in his time at Fort Hays State, including five honorees in a season three times, which tied the program record. Two Tigers earned first team honors in 2016 (Crystal Whitten and Rebekah Spainhour), the first time FHSU had a student-athlete on the first team since joining the MIAA in 2006. Additionally, Whitten became the fifth All-American in program history in 2016, earning honorable mention honors from the AVCA.

For their work in the classroom, the Tigers have earned the AVCA Team Academic Award three years in a row under Kohler. FHSU had never received the award until this stretch started in 2015. Kohler also helped establish the Pass, Set Pink Scholarship that will be awarded to FHSU students directly impacted by cancer, raising more than $10,000 since 2012.

Brandi Fairbank will now serve as the Interim Head Coach of the program until the completion of the season. Fairbank is a graduate of Sterling College who entered her first season with the team as an assistant coach. She played collegiately at Sterling and Dodge City (Kan.) Community College. Sabrina Hallahan will continue to serve as the program’s graduate assistant.

Helping Fairbank through the transition to interim head coach will be Jennifer Thompson, who brings plenty of coaching experience from the collegiate and club levels. Thompson served four seasons as head volleyball coach at Labette (Kan.) Community College after managing and coaching a junior Olympic volleyball club in Ohio for 10 years. She played four years as a middle hitter at Ohio Northern University. Thompson previously worked in compliance for Fort Hays State Athletics.

Fort Hays State University will open a search for a new head coach in the near future, looking for the candidate to take over the role by January.

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Fort Hays State women’s golf team finished 12th at the NSU Women’s Classic (Sept 11-12). The event was held at Cherokee Springs, a par-72, 5,964-yard course. The Tigers shot rounds of 330 and 332.

Hannah Perkins led Fort Hays State as she tied for 37th individually. She shot rounds of 82 and 79 to finish 17-over par (161) for the week.

Madison Roether fired rounds of 82 and 84 to finish alone in 53rd. Taylor DeBoer tied for 60th with rounds of 85 and 84. Kelsey McCarthy tied for 69th after rounds of 88 and 85. Katie Brungardt shot rounds of 81 and 94.

Southwest Oklahoma State won the tournament by breaking a three-way tie in a five-hole sudden death playoff against Henderson State and Missouri Western. All three teams shot 38-over (614). Henderson State and Missouri Western tied for second in the playoff. Shi Qing Ong of Missouri Western was the individual champion at 1-under par (143) for the tournament.

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Fort Hays State finished 11th among MIAA teams and 20th overall at the Mule Invitational (Sept. 11-12), hosted at Mules National Golf Course in Missouri. Senior Skyler Tebo led Fort Hays State with rounds of 74, 79 and 72 to post a total score of 225 and tie for 43rd place, climbing 18 spots on the second day of competition and into the top 50.

Results

Mac McNish (80-78-81) and Isaiah Grover (77-79-83) finished in a tie for 87th individually. Lane Pauls shot rounds of 83, 76 and 82 to finish in a tie for 93rd. Colton Bobek shot rounds of 77, 81 and 85.

Arkansas Tech took the team title with an aggregate score of 857. Fellow MIAA team Central Oklahoma placed second with a score of 871 and Henderson State (872) placed third. Fort Hays State finished 20th as team with a score of 308-312-319 for a total of 939.

This was the first designated MIAA event of the year. Central Oklahoma topped the conference field, followed by Washburn and Missouri Western. The top individual among MIAA golfers was Sam Parrott of Central Missouri, who was just one stroke off the winning pace at 2-over par (212).

Putter Srinoon of Arkansas Tech claimed the individual title in a three-way playoff between Mason Banger of Harding and Nick Shapiro of Henderson State. They all shot one-over for the tournament and a total score of 211.

The Tigers are in action next week (Sept. 18-19) when they travel to Muskogee, Oklahoma to compete in the NSU Classic at the Muskogee Country Club.

Just a day after appearing in the AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll for the first time in program history at No. 21, the Tigers have jumped into the Top 25 of the D2Football.com Poll released on Tuesday (Sept. 12). The Tigers are ranked 17th, their highest yet in the weekly supplemental poll.

Fort Hays State broke into the D2Football.com poll for the first time in program history last year, debuting at No. 23 on October 11 when they held an overall record of 5-1. The Tigers dropped out the following week, but returned on October 25 at No. 24 in the poll. That was the last appearance for the Tigers in the D2Football.com poll prior to Tuesday.

The D2Football.com Poll currently has four teams inside the top 25 with Northwest Missouri State at No. 1, Emporia State at No. 10, Fort Hays State at No. 17, and Central Missouri at No. 25. Emporia State’s only loss on the year was to No. 1 Northwest Missouri State.

Below is the D2Football.com Poll for September 12, 2017.

Rank Team Record Previous Week
1 Northwest Missouri State 2-0 1
2 Ferris State 1-0 2
3 Texas A&M-Commerce 2-0 3
4 Shepherd 1-0 4
5 Indiana (Pa.) 2-0 5
6 California 2-0 6
7 North Alabama 0-1 8
8 Sioux Falls 2-0 9
9 Minnesota State 2-0 10
10 Emporia State 1-1 11
11 Grand Valley State 1-1 14
12 Midwestern State 1-0 15
13 LIU-Post 2-0 16
14 CSU-Pueblo 1-1 7
15 Minnesota Duluth 1-1 17
16 Ashland 1-1 21
17 Fort Hays State 2-0 NR
18 Albany State 2-0 NR
19 Indianapolis 2-0 19
20 Colorado Mesa 2-0 22
21 West Georgia 2-0 24
22 Slippery Rock 2-0 NR
23 Arkansas Tech 2-0 NR
24 Valdosta State 0-1 NR
25 Central Missouri 1-1 12

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After two-consecutive ties in their road trip to North Dakota this past weekend, the FHSU women’s soccer team is now the first team right outside the top 25 and receiving votes in the latest NSCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll released Tuesday (Sept. 12). The Tigers now hold a 2-0-2 record this season.

No. 4 University of Central Missouri and No. 24 Missouri Western State University are the only other MIAA programs earning notice this edition.

Below is the NSCAA Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for September 12, 2017.

Rank School Prev. W-L-T
1 Western Washington University 1 3-0-0
2 Columbus State University 2 2-0-0
3 Kutztown University 3 4-0-0
4 University of Central Missouri 4 4-0-0
5 St. Edward’s University 6 3-0-1
6 University Of West Florida 5 3-0-0
7 LIU Post 8 3-0-0
8 Bellarmine University 7 2-0-1
9 Texas A&M University-Commerce 11 3-0-1
10 Sonoma State University 18 4-0-0
11 Carson-Newman University 12 3-0-0
12 Grand Valley State University 14 2-2-0
13 Nova Southeastern University 13 3-0-0
14 West Virginia Wesleyan 22 4-0-1
15 Minnesota State University-Mankato 10 2-1-0
16 Adelphi University 15 2-0-0
17 Mississippi College 19 3-0-1
18 Colorado School Of Mines RV 3-1-0
19 University of California-San Diego 9 3-2-0
20 Quincy University 23 3-0-0
21 Southern New Hampshire University 24 3-1-0
22 Limestone College RV 2-1-0
23 Seton Hill University 16 3-1-0
24 Missouri Western State University NR 4-0-0
25 Flagler College RV 4-0-0

Also receiving votes: Fort Hays State University, University of North Alabama, Texas Woman’s University, California State University Stanislaus

Fort Hays State Weekly Football Press Conference
September 12, 2017

Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown conducted his weekly press conference in advance of the Tigers game at Central Oklahoma Saturday night in Edmond. Brown and select players met with the media inside Lewis Field on Tuesday, a session that can be heard by clicking on the links below.

Head Coach Chris Brown

Senior OL Travis Talley

Senior DL Nathan Shepherd

WACO, Texas – For the first time since the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll began in 2000, Fort Hays State Football enters the Top 25 after its 35-6 win over No. 13 Central Missouri last week. After receiving votes for several weeks in previous years and early this year, the Tigers finally make their debut in the poll at No. 21.

Fort Hays State received 14 votes in the first regular season poll released by the AFCA on September 4, but after the win over Central Missouri, it received 152 votes. The No. 21 ranking in the poll is where Central Missouri started in the preseason before jumping to No. 13 prior to the game in Hays last week. With its win, Fort Hays State knocked Central Missouri out of the poll, but the Mules are now the sixth-highest among the receiving votes section.

This is not the first time FHSU has been ranked in the official NCAA Division II rankings. The last appearance in the top 25 of the official NCAA Division II Poll was September 16, 1996, when FHSU was No. 6 in the nation. The Tigers fell out of the poll the following week and went nearly 21 calendar years without appearing in the official poll until Monday. The poll prior to 2000 was organized by the NCAA Football Committee. Fort Hays State made an appearance in the D2Football.com poll last year, but never quite broke into the AFCA poll. The D2Football.com poll will be released on Tuesday.

Fort Hays State will get its first test as a top 25 team at Central Oklahoma on Saturday night (Sept. 16). Central Oklahoma is 1-1 so far this year after a win over Lindenwood at home and a loss at Pittsburg State. FHSU has won its last two meetings with Central Oklahoma.

Northwest Missouri State continues its hold on the No. 1 ranking in the nation, but joins FHSU as the only two undefeated teams remaining in the MIAA. Eight of the 12 MIAA teams have started 1-1 on the year. Emporia State moved up one spot to No. 14 this week, with its one loss to top ranked Northwest Missouri. Central Missouri and Washburn are among the MIAA teams receiving votes this week.

Rank School (1st votes) Record Points Previous
1. Northwest Missouri St. (34) 2-0 850 1
2. Ferris St. (Mich.) 1-0 810 2
3. Texas A&M-Commerce 2-0 782 3
4. Shepherd (W.Va.) 1-0 715 4
5. California (Pa.) 2-0 703 5
6. Indiana (Pa.) 2-0 674 6
7. Sioux Falls (S.D.) 2-0 617 9
8. Minnesota State 2-0 561 12
9. LIU-Post (N.Y.) 2-0 560 10
10. North Alabama 0-1 532 11
11. Colorado Mesa 2-0 453 17
12. Grand Valley State (Mich.) 1-1 417 14
13. Midwestern State (Texas) 1-0 402 16
14. Emporia State (Kan.) 1-1 397 15
15. Indianapolis (Ind.) 2-0 389 18
16. Albany State (Ga.) 2-0 369 20
17. West Georgia 2-0 261 25
18. Colorado State-Pueblo 1-1 244 7
19. Arkansas Tech 2-0 180 NR
20. Minnesota-Duluth 1-1 171 21
21. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 2-0 152 NR
22. Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 1-1 115 8
23. Central Washington 2-0 103 NR
24. Delta State (Miss.) 2-0 92 NR
25. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 2-0 69 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Humboldt St. (Calif.), 65; Bowie St. (Md.), 58; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 58; Assumption (Mass.), 43; Ashland (Ohio), 37; Central Missouri, 24; Angelo St. (Texas), 18; Eastern New Mexico, 18; West Texas A&M, 18; Catawba (N.C.), 17; Colorado Mines, 11; Virginia-Wise, 8; Winona St. (Minn.), 8; West Chester (Pa.), 7; Hillsdale (Mich.), 6; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 6; Virginia St., 6; Tuskegee (Ala.), 5; Winston-Salem St. (N.C.), 5; Florida Tech, 4; Washburn (Kan.), 3; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 2; Henderson St. (Ark.), 2; Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 2; Virginia Union, 1.