Fort Hays State (7-3, 7-3 MIAA) at
Northeastern State (0-10, 0-10 MIAA)
Saturday, November 16, 2019 – 2 pm
Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium – Tahlequah, Okla.
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Fort Hays State Football will complete its 2019 schedule on Saturday at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Tigers (7-3) will attempt to extend their streak of winning at least eight games in a season to five straight years against a winless RiverHawks (0-10) squad inside Doc Wadley Stadium at 2 pm.

Unless there is an unforeseen shake up and several upsets among teams in the NCAA Super Region rankings, this game will close out the season for the Tigers. Head Coach Chris Brown addressed media on Tuesday saying “Our goal and expectation this year was to win the conference, get to the playoffs, and win in the playoffs. A bowl game was not going to be an option for us, because that is not who we are right now.”

“I told our kids (Monday) this is going to be our last game, and I’m going to stick to my word. When we first started building this program and went to the two bowl games (2015 and 2016), it was great, because we were still trying to build a championship tradition. We’ve done that now and we did not take care of business in the in the regular season,” said Brown. FHSU was the two-time defending MIAA Champion going into this season and made two straight appearances in the NCAA Playoffs before falling just short of both accomplishments this year. Central Missouri will either win the MIAA title outright on Saturday or share it with Northwest Missouri State, pending what happens when they square off in Maryville. Both are among the top seven in the Super Region 3 rankings.

Even with the Tigers falling just short of their postseason goals this year, the 2019 senior class has the opportunity to go out as the winningest in the program’s NCAA Division II history by percentage. A win would push the group of seniors that have been part of the team from 2016-2019 to 36-11 overall, which would be one-loss better than the 2018 senior class mark of 36-12. They can match the 2018 class for most wins by any senior class in the entire program’s history.

The Tigers go into this contest with the fourth-best passing offense in the nation, averaging 328 yards per game. Quarterback Chance Fuller ranks sixth nationally in passing yards per game (309) and fourth in completions per game (24). With 3,090 passing yards, he is the fourth Tiger quarterback in history to throw for at least 3,000 in a season. He is 423 shy of the single-season record of 3,513 by Mike Garrison in 2010. With 31 touchdowns, he is three shy of the single-season passing touchdown record set by Shawn Behr in 1995 with 34.

Harley Hazlett has a chance to become the eighth Tiger receiver in history to reach 2,000 yards in his career. He is just 20 yards shy at 1,980. He leads the Tigers with 803 receiving yards on the season. He already owns the all-time receptions record at FHSU with 180. Manny Ramsey (785) and Layne Bieberle (673) give the Tigers three receivers with over 600 receiving yards this year.

On defense, Drew Harvey is pacing the tackles list with 84 for the season. Jordan Starks (77) and Tanner Hoekman (76), the team leaders in interceptions with three each, rank second and third respectively in tackles. Sheldon Schmidt leads the Tigers in sacks with three.

Fort Hays State is looking for a sixth-straight win against Northeastern State. The Tigers have claimed all five meetings against the RiverHawks in MIAA play.

Northeastern State has struggled mightily this year, allowing 62.6 points

Fort Hays State at Colorado School of Mines
Saturday, November 16, 2019 – 4 pm CST
Radio: KFIX (96.9-FM)
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Fort Hays State at UC-Colorado Springs
Sunday, November 17, 2019 – 4 pm CST
Radio: KJLS (103-3.FM)
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After a 2-0 start to the season, Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball returns to action on Saturday and Sunday in Colorado. The first stop on the road trip is Colorado School of Mines, the No. 14 ranked team in the nation by the NABC, in Golden before traveling to UC-Colorado Springs. Colorado School of Mines is 1-1 so far, while UCCS sits at 2-0 going into the weekend. Games on both days begin at 4 pm CT / 3 pm MT.

Fort Hays State claimed a pair of wins in Arkansas last week with an 88-78 win over Arkansas Tech and a 58-53 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Tigers had a balanced scoring effort over the two games with seven players reaching double figures at least once. Aaron Nicholson, Jared Vitztum, and Nyjee Wright are all averaging a team-high 12 points per game.

Colorado School of Mines plays its third game of a seven-game home stand to open the season. The Orediggers were upset on their home floor in the season opener against St. Mary’s University (Texas), 85-84 in overtime. However, they bounced back with a blowout 75-47 win over Lubbock Christian. Fort Hays State claimed a 75-71 win over Colorado School of Mines last year in Hays, but the Tigers fell in double overtime in the 2017-18 meeting in Golden by a score of 109-101.

The meeting between UC-Colorado Springs and FHSU on Sunday will be the final game of a four-game home stand to open the year for UCCS. The Mountain Lions won their first two games last week, 69-61 over Midwestern State (Texas) and 90-62 over Cameron (Okla.). UCCS will play Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday before hosting the Tigers on Sunday. FHSU defeated UCCS 67-51 last year in Hays as FHSU extended its record in the all-time series with UCCS to 12-0.

A 20-5 second quarter blew open a three point ball game as #7 Fort Hays State moved to 3-0 on the young season.  The Tigers jumped out a seven point lead twice in the first quarter but could not build on the advantage.  Adams State cut the Tiger lead down to three by the end of the quarter at 13-10 and started the second quarter with the ball but failed to score.

The Tigers launched into a 12-0 run that three different players scored during.  That stretch pushed the Fort Hays State advantage to 25-10 over Adams State.  The Grizzlies would never get closer than 12 points rest of the night.  The Tigers led by 18 at halftime 33-15.  That gap would never get closer than 16 in the second half winning 79-39.

Highlights

 

Fort Hays State held Adams State to single digits in the second and third quarter.  The Tigers outscored the Grizzlies 20-5 and 23-6 in those two quarters.  Lanie Page led the way in scoring for the home team at 11 points.  Belle Barbieri added her second double-double of the season at ten points and ten rebounds.  Each one of the 13 players suited up for the Tigers scored during the forty point victory.  Adams State was led by Zakiya Beckles who came off the bench to score a game high 16.

The Tiger bench came through with a season high 42 points, no player was on the floor for more than 21 minutes and turnovers were cut nearly in have at nine in the game.

Coach Tony Hobson

 

Fort Hays State improves to 3-0 on the year.  They will play at home Saturday evening at 5:00 against Cameron University who is 1-2.  The Aggies lost to Nebraska-Kearney 79-73 earlier in the night.

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State men’s soccer defeated the Harding University Bisons 3-1 in the first GAC/MIAA semifinal on Friday to advance to the title game Sunday. The Tigers victory improves their record to 13-5-1 overall in 2019, while the Bisons fall to 9-7-2.

GAC Freshman of the Year Alec Bevis put the Tigers on the board early in the match. In the eighth minute, junior Mauricio Etcheverry sent a corner into the box. Flying over the heads of every defender, Bevis beat his man at the opposite edge of the six-yard box and tapped the ball into the back of the net—beating goalkeeper Carlos Calderon to the near post.

Fort Hays State was able to strike again just 10 minutes later. A cross from Etcheverry rattled between a trio of Harding defenders. After a pair of touches from the Bisons, the ball fell right to the feet of Arsenio Chamorro, who displayed a clinical finish past a diving Calderon to extend the Tiger lead to two goals.

With just under three minutes remaining in the first half, FHSU won a free kick spotted in their attacking third. Senior Moises Peralta stepped up with confidence and drilled a ball towards the goal, rattling off of the crossbar from nearly 40-yards out.

The Black and Gold grabbed their third goal of the match in the 69th minute. Seniors Joey McCain and Santiago Agudelo played a pair of passes, the first off of McCain’s throw-in and the second from Agudelo’s back-heel, down the line. McCain, sprinting from the sideline put a cross towards the center of the six-yard box. Chamorro, who had scored previously, jumped in front of his defender. Sticking his foot out, he redirected the ball to the far post, past the outstretched hands of Calderon.

While Fort Hays State persisted with aggression on the offensive end and retained possession for a majority of the match, Harding was able to lessen the margin in the 72nd minute when Jeremy Nwonumah was sent through on goal and beat goalkeeper Cullen Fisch for the Bisons only score of the contest.

The Tigers registered 17 total shots on Friday afternoon, four of which hit the target. Fisch remained active at the anchor of FHSU’s defense, notching five saves.

The victory puts Fort Hays State through to their match on Sunday afternoon against Rogers State. The Hillcats fought to a 2-0 victory over the Northeastern State RiverHawks on Friday night (Nov. 15).

FHSU defeated Rogers State in both meetings throughout the 2019 campaign—the first meeting resulted in a 2-0 victory in Hays, Kan. while the latter match was a 1-0 scoreline in Claremore, Okla.

The Tigers hold a 2-1 series lead all-time over the Hillcats.

Sunday’s championship contest between the two sides is slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team dropped a hard-fought match against Pittsburg State on Friday (Nov. 15), 28-30, 23-25, 25-16, 25-14. The Tigers outhit the Gorillas on the day, but late PSU rallies in the first and second set made the difference. The Tigers move to 6-21 overall and 3-16 in MIAA play, while the Gorillas improve to 14-14 on the year and 9-10 in conference action.

Fort Hays State tallied a .198 attack percentage on the day while limiting Pittsburg State to a swing rate of .176 thanks to nine total team blocks. The Tigers had a significant edge in digs, 105-90.

Morgan Christiansen led the team with an impressive .526 attack percentage, recording 11 kills and just one error on 19 swings while adding four blocks (one solo). Tatum Bartels added 10 kills, six digs and five blocks (two solo). Morgan West and Mykah Eshbaugh tallied nine kills each, with Paige Baird and Delaney Humm adding eight kills apiece. Katie Darnell recorded a double-double with 38 assists and a career-high 21 digs. Abbie Hayes led the team with 28 assists and added the lone service ace for the Tigers.

The teams went back and forth for the entirety of the opening set, with neither team leading by more than two. Pittsburg State was the first team to reach set point at 24-23, but a kill from Christiansen extended the set. Baird and West added kills to extend the set before Darnell added a kill to give the Tigers a chance at set point, 27-26. After the Gorillas tied things up, Humm found the floor with a big kill to give the Tigers another chance at the set, but the Gorillas responded with three consecutive points to secure the win, 30-28.

The Tigers trailed by as many as five late in the first set, 22-17, before going on a 6-1 run to tie things up. Kills from Christiansen and West combined with four Pitt State errors combined to help the Tigers level the score at 23-23 before the Gorillas used another late run to take the set, 25-23.

Fort Hays State never trailed in the third set, taking the first two points and seven of the first 10. Two kills from Mykah Eshbaugh anchored a 6-0 run late in the set to help the Tigers take complete control, 20-9. Christiansen recorded a solo block to give the Tigers a chance at set point before combining with Humm on a set-clinching block, giving the Tigers a 25-16 win. Pittsburg State responded with its best set of the afternoon, posting a .302 attack percentage en route to a 25-14 win.

The Tigers will wrap up the regular season Saturday (Nov. 16) when they host Missouri Southern for Senior Day. First serve is set for noon from Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Fort Hays State vs. Adams State
Friday, November 15, 2019 – 7 pm
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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Fort Hays State vs. Cameron
Saturday, November 16, 2019 – 5 pm
Radio: KAYS (94.3-FM, 1400-AM)
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HAYS, Kan. – The No. 7/3 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team makes its home debut this weekend with a pair of non-conference matchups. The Tigers will open their home schedule Friday (Nov. 15) against Adams State at 7 p.m. before facing off with Cameron on Saturday (Nov. 16) at 5 p.m.

Both contests will be the second game of a doubleheader, with Nebraska-Kearney battling Cameron at 5 p.m. Friday and Adams State at 3 p.m. Saturday. Daily upper level general admission tickets are available for $10 and will be good for both games that day.

The Tigers return to Gross Memorial Coliseum with a 2-0 record after opening the season with a pair of wins last weekend in St. Joseph, Mo. Just one week into the season, FHSU is one of three remaining undefeated MIAA programs (UCO 3-0, UNK 2-0). Adams State brings an 0-2 record to Hays, while Cameron is 1-1 so far this season.

Fort Hays State has won 15 straight home openers, with the last loss coming at the start of the 2003-04 season. The Tigers are 23-4 in home openers during the NCAA DII era.

The Tigers have won their last 36 non-conference regular season games and 69 of their last 70. The streak is even longer at home, as the Tigers have not lost a regular season non-conference game inside Gross Memorial Coliseum since 2008, winning the last 52 such contests. Head coach Tony Hobson is 77-5 in regular season non-conference games, including a 54-2 mark at home.

It will be a renewal of an old RMAC rivalry Friday when the Tigers face off with the Adams State Grizzlies. Fort Hays State dominated the annual series, winning 23 of the 24 matchups between 1990 and 2006, including an unblemished 12-0 record in Hays. This is the first meeting between the teams since FHSU joined the MIAA in advance of the 2006-07 season. The Tigers are 9-0 against RMAC schools under Hobson

This is the third meeting all-time with Cameron, all of which have been played inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers are 2-0 against the Aggies all-time, including one win under Hobson back in 2014-15 (93-52, 11/22/14). FHSU is 4-0 against schools from the Lone Star Conference under Hobson.

Belle Barbieri opened her senior year with a solid weekend in St. Joe, averaging a double-double with 11.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game. Her 15.0 rebounds per contest leads the conference and ranks third nationally in NCAA Division II.

Kacey Kennett had a game to remember in Saturday’s win over Concordia-St. Paul. The senior led the Tigers with 20 points, her seventh 20-point performance as a Tiger, while matching her career-best with five assists and seven steals. She capped off the memorable day by eclipsing 1,000 career points for her career on a free throw that gave the Tigers the lead for good.

Lanie Page was FHSU’s leading scorer for the weekend, averaging 13.5 points per night. The senior paced the Tigers with 14 points in Friday’s victory before adding 13 points on Saturday.

Adams State dropped its first two games of the year last weekend in Stephenville, Texas, scoring 53.5 points per game while surrendering 72.5 points per game to its opponents. The Grizzles are led in scoring by Zakiya Beckles, who averages 10.0 points per contest. Ally McKenzie scored 19 points in Saturday’s loss to Adams State, including a 13-for-16 effort from the charity stripe.

The Aggies averaged 65.5 points per game last weekend while allowing opponents an average of 76.5 points per night. Sophomore Maighan Hedge leads Cameron in scoring with an average of 17.5 points per game. Freshman Kami Porter added 13.5 points per contest in her first action with the Aggies. CU turned the ball over 43 times last weekend, averaging 21.5 turnovers per contest. Head coach Emma Andrews is in her fourth season leading the Aggies, compiling a 33-53 record over that span.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer had seven student-athletes named to the All-GAC Team for the 2019 season on Thursday evening (Nov. 14). Santiago Agudelo is the Offensive Player of the Year, Sergio Villalba is the Defender of the Year, Alec Bevis is the Freshman of the Year, and Gerry Cleary is the Coach of the Year. The Tigers received three first-team, two second-team, and two honorable mention selections.

First-team selections went to senior forward Santiago Agudelo, senior defender Sergio Villalba, and sophomore midfielder Rogelio Lopez.

Agudelo adds another conference player of the year honor to his impressive resume as a Tiger. The Frisco, Texas native was the MIAA Player of the Year in 2018 and adds the GAC Offensive Player of the Year honor this season. Agudelo has 34 points on the season, producing 14 goals and 6 assists to lead the GAC-Champion Tigers. Last year, he also received the D2CCA Central Region and National Player of the Year awards with 58 points (26 goals, 6 assists). He now has a total of 92 points in his two seasons on the field for the Tigers, which is a school record.

Villalba receives the GAC Defender of the Year honor and the first all-conference first team honor of his career at FHSU. A native of Asuncion, Paraguay, Villalba is now a three-time all-conference recipient after earning All-MIAA Second Team honors in 2016 and 2018. Last year, he also earned D2CCA All-Central Region 2nd Team honors. Villalba has appeared in 78 matches throughout his career at FHSU playing 6,285 minutes, accmumulating 32 points (13 goals, 6 assists).

Lopez is now a two-time all-conference performer by earning first-team honors in the midfield. The Katy, Texas native was the MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2018, while also garnering an all-conference second team selection. Has 10 points this season to rank fifth on the team and has a total of 24 points over 36 matches in two seasons at FHSU.

Second-team selections went to junior defender Moritz Walther and senior midfielder Mauricio Etcheverry.

Walther is now a two-time all-conference performer at Fort Hays State. The Wiesloch, Germany native earned All-MIAA First Team and D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team honors last year as a midfielder. Walther moved to the back line to strengthen the Tiger defense this year, but still ranks third on the team in scoring with 12 points (5 goals, 2 assists). Walther has 24 points over two seasons at FHSU. He was also named a GAC/MIAA Distinguished Scholar Student-Athlete for having more than 70 college credit hours and at least a grade point average of 3.7.

Etcheverry picks up the first all-conference honor of his career at FHSU. The Asuncion, Paraguay native has 12 points in his career over 60 matches at FHSU, producing 3 goals and 6 assists.

Earning honorable mention nods were freshman defender Alec Bevis and freshman midfielder Jacob Basden.

Bevis is the 2019 GAC Freshman of the Year. The Wichita, Kansas native leads FHSU in minutes played this year with 1,580. He has played entire matches in 14 of 18 contests so far this year, while helping FHSU allow an average of 1.3 goals per match. He also has two points this year, both on assists.

Basden has been a nice steady addition to the midfield for FHSU this year. The Dural, Australia native has logged 817 minutes and started 11 of the last 14 contests.

Cleary picks up conference coach of the year honors in his first season guiding Fort Hays State. By guiding FHSU to the conference regular season title, Cleary has now led collegiate programs he has coached to 16 conference titles. This is Cleary’s eighth conference coach of the year honor after earning the distinction seven times as a head coach at Martin Methodist College.

Below is the 2019 All-GAC Men’s Soccer Team.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – FORT HAYS STATE – Santiago Agudelo, F, Sr., Frisco, Texas

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – FORT HAYS STATE – Sergio Villalba, D, Sr., Asuncion, Paraguay

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – ROGERS STATE – Jaime Ponce, D, Jr., Enid, Oklahoma

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – FORT HAYS STATE – Alec Bevis, D, Wichita, Kansas

COACH OF THE YEAR – FORT HAYS STATE – Gerry Cleary

GAC/MIAA ELITE SCHOLAR STUDENT-ATHLETE
Joshua Tatarian, Northeastern State

GAC/MIAA DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR STUDENT-ATHLETES:
Moritz Walther, Fort Hays State
Andre Cunha, Harding
Jonathan Curnutt, Harding
Matheus Ribeiro, Harding
Erol Banuelos, Rogers State
Jarrod Cooper, Rogers State
Jake Simpson, Rogers State

All-GAC/MIAA First Team
* F FORT HAYS STATE – #9 Santiago Agudelo, Sr., Frisco, Texas
F NEWMAN – #14 Eddie Jabbari, Sr., Reading, England
F NORTHEASTERN STATE – #19 Flynn Semmerling, So., Hamburg, Germany
F ROGERS STATE – #7 Jake Simpson, Sr., Cambridge, England
* MF NEWMAN – #10 Victor Rubio Lopez, So., Madrid, Spain
MF FORT HAYS STATE – #6 Rogelio Lopez, So., Katy, Texas
MF HARDING – #14 Christian Ramos, Sr., Denton, Texas
MF ROGERS STATE – #8 Noah Robson, Sr., Liverpool, England
* D FORT HAYS STATE – #13 Sergio Villalba, Sr., Asuncion, Paraguay
D NORTHEASTERN STATE – #15 James Doyle, Jr., Merseyside, England
D ROGERS STATE – #5 Jaimie Ponce, Jr., Enid, Oklahoma
D ROGERS STATE – #6 Micheal Turner, Jr., Ramford, England
G ROGERS STATE – #1 Dillon Dean, Jr., Mustang, Oklahoma

All-GAC/MIAA Second Team
F HARDING – #7 Jeremy Nwonumah, Sr., Chicago, Illinois
F NEWMAN – #9 Ignacio Lerech, Jr., Tucuman, Argentina
F NORTHEASTERN STATE – #11 Aaron Ugbah, Sr., Tulsa, Oklahoma
F ROGERS STATE – #10 Jordan Watson, Jr., London, England
MF NORTHEASTERN STATE – #14 Scott Adams, Sr., Jenks, Oklahoma
MF OKLAHOMA BAPTIST – #8 Alejandro Castillo, Sr., Peralta, Spain
MF FORT HAYS STATE – #17 Mauricio Etcheverry, Sr., Asuncion, Paraguay
MF SOUTHERN NAZARENE – #18 Angel Lopez, So., Dallas, Texas
D OUACHITA – #12 Kobe Coleman, So., Georgetown, Texas
D HARDING – #15 Adrian Renteria, Fr., Grand Prairie, Texas
D FORT HAYS STATE – #20 Moritz Walther, Jr., Wiesloch, Germany
D NORTHEASTERN STATE – #7 Ben Watson, Sr., Sherman, Texas
G NEWMAN – #1 Jean Claude Console, So., Aosta, Italy
G NORTHEASTERN STATE – #0 Justin Hinman, So., Little Rock, Arkansas

All-GAC/MIAA Honorable Mention
MF FORT HAYS STATE – #8 Jacob Basden, Fr., Dural, Australia
MF OUACHITA – #11 Noa Cuellar, Sr., Frisco, Texas
MF ROGERS STATE – #9 Callum Hubble, Jr., Chelmsford, England
MF OUACHITA – #10 Abraham Lazo, Sr., Irving, Texas
MF HARDING – #10 Matheus Ribeiro, Sr., Belo Horizonte, Brazil
MF NORTHEASTERN STATE – #4 Sam Scarth, Fr., Liverpool, England
MF NEWMAN – #7 Santiago Martinez Zuviria, Jr., Buenos Aires, Argentina
D FORT HAYS STATE – #5 Alec Bevis, Fr., Wichita, Kansas
D OUACHITA – #5 Jakob Cuellar, Sr., Frisco, Texas
D NEWMAN – #12 Enzo Nalis, Jr., Bastia, France
D SOUTHERN NAZARENE – #25 Eric Romero, Fr., Dallas, Texas
D NEWMAN – #4 Fernando Rubio Garcia, Sr., Sevilla, Spain
D NORTHEASTERN STATE – #5 Sadaam Yousufzai, Jr., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
G HARDING – #00 Carlos Calderon, Sr., Santander, Spain
G OUACHITA – #1 Matt Day, So., Texarkana, Texas