HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State bounced back from its hard-fought loss against No. 10 ranked Central Oklahoma with a straight set win over Pittsburg State on Saturday. The Tigers moved to 19-6 overall and 5-5 in the MIAA, while the Gorillas dropped to 4-17 overall and 2-7 in the MIAA.

The Tigers used three straight blocks to open the match, all with Callie Christensen involved (2 assisted, 1 solo) to jump out to a 3-0 lead. FHSU would never trail in the set, eventually running its lead to eight at 15-7. Despite Pittsburg State cutting the lead back to two, the Tigers pulled away late for a 25-19 set win. Crystal Whitten had the hot hand early, putting down five kills and hitting .500 in the set.

The second set was competitive with four lead changes and 10 ties. The Tigers built a 16-12 lead midway through the set before the Gorillas responded to tie the score at 18-18. The teams sided out six consecutive times to a 24-24 tie before kills from Azlyn Cassaday and Whitten gave the Tigers a 26-24 victory in the win-by-two situation.

Pittsburg State hung around in the third set to an 11-11 tie, but the Tigers went on a 6-1 burst to take control by five. Another 5-0 run by the Tigers left no doubt as they cruised to a 25-14 set win and 3-0 sweep of the match.

Whitten hit .357 for the Tigers with a team-high 13 kills. She added 10 digs for a double-double. Rebekah Spainhour put down 10 kills and hit an efficient .421. Megan Anderson was also big for the Tigers in the middle, hitting .412 with nine kills. Hannah Wagy produced 13 assists per set with 39 for the match and Kailey Klibbe notched a team-best 12 digs. Christensen led the Tigers in blocks with five.

Zoey Qi and Maggie Highberger each recorded a team-high seven kills for Pittsburg State. Setter Carolina VanBuskirk had 30 assists and no Gorillas reached double figures in digs.

The Tigers look for their 20th win of the season on Thursday at Lindenwood in St. Charles, Mo. Match time is set for 5 pm.

FHSU Sports Information

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

TOPEKA, Kan. – Washburn scored two special teams touchdowns and on a fumble recovery in the endzone and beat Fort Hays State 30-24 Saturday afternoon at Yager Stadium, handing the Tigers their ninth straight loss in Topeka. The loss ends FHSU’s four-game win streak and drops them to 5-2. Washburn has won four of their last five and improves to 5-2.

The Tigers trailed 20-0 early in the second quarter, but missed opportunities cost them in the comeback attempt. The Tigers had three possessions into the Washburn redzone in the third quarter but scored only three points on a missed field goal and fumble.

The Ichabods pushed a nine-point halftime lead to 30-14 on a Bryce Chavis 83-yard punt return.

Chris Brown Postgame Press Conference

Alex Schmidtberger Postgame Interview

Jacob Mezera Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Ichabods scored on a 43-yard fake punt on their opening possession to grab the early lead. Austin Tillman’s fumble recovery in the endzone pushed the lead to 13-0. Derek McGinnis then connected with Bryce Chavis for 67-yard touchdown pass and the 20-0 lead early in the second.

The Tigers scored on their next two possessions on a T.J. Thomas capped an eight-play, 69-yard drive with a one-yard plunge then Shaquille Cooper scored on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Mezera.

Mezera hit J.J. Lewis on a two-yard pass with 0:52 but the Ichabods recovered the on-side kick and ran out the clock.

The Tigers finished with 433 yards of offense but were hurt by two turnovers. Jacob Mezera completed 30 of 47 passes for 354 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Shaquille Cooper and Kenneth Iheme both rushed for 57 yards. Cooper led the Tigers with 127 receiving

Washburn was held to 72 yards in the second half and 299 for the game.

HAYS, Kan. – On a night where the Fort Hays State volleyball team gave one of its most well-rounded performances of the year, the visiting Bronchos of Central Oklahoma were just a bit better. The Tigers (18-6, 4-5) fought valiantly in each set against the 10th-ranked team in the country, but the Bronchos (21-1, 7-1) lived up to their ranking to steal a four-set victory inside Gross Memorial Coliseum Friday night.

Senior Crystal Whitten was looked to early and often, taking a career-high 76 swings in the match to tie the single match attempts record at FHSU during the rally scoring era (2001). The outside hitter connected with 23 kills, equaling her career high (vs. ESU, 10/9/15) and eclipsing 20 kills for the seventh time in her collegiate career.

The Tigers matched UCO blow-for-blow much of the match, totaling 62 kills and a .183 attack percentage to the Bronchos’ 71 kills and .218 effort. Fort Hays State picked up nine blocks in the match. The visitors totaled 105 digs in the match, the most by an FHSU opponent since 2012 (UCO, 125, 10/27). There were a total of 27 ties and 12 lead changes in the match.

After a Whitten kill handed FHSU the first point of the match, the Bronchos quickly took the lead and maintained it for the rest of the opening set. The Tigers managed to tie the score five more times, as late as 16-16, but could never snag the lead. With the Bronchos serving for the set, Sydney Dixon added a kill to close within two, 24-22. A Broncho error extended the set, but UCO’s heavy-hitter Taylor Bevis captured the victory with a strong kill on the next point.

The Tigers used a .283 hitting percentage in the second set to level the score heading into the locker room. Two early kills from Rebekah Spainhour gave the Tigers a 5-2 lead. The Bronchos used a 10-3 run later in the set to open up a four-point lead, 19-15, prompting head coach Kurt Kohler to use a timeout. FHSU scored three-straight out of the huddle, but the Bronchos bounced back to reach set point, 24-22. Kills from Callie Christensen and Dixon leveled the score, prompting a UCO timeout. The Tigers kept the momentum this time, winning the set after a pair of Broncho attack errors.

Fort Hays State held the lead early on in set three behind three Spainhour kills, 7-5, but four-straight points from the Bronchos gave them the lead for good. The Tigers never trailed by more than five in the set, but they couldn’t find the rally necessary to equalize.

The last set was one for the ages, with both teams leaving everything they had on the floor. The set included 10 ties, five lead changes, six blocks and 78 digs between the teams. Two quick kills from Whitten gave the Tigers an early lead before UCO used a 6-0 run to go ahead. Later, a Tiger error put the Bronchos in front by five, 16-11, prompting a Kohler timeout. FHSU scored nine of the next 12 to retake the lead, 20-19, and then the real excitement started. Neither side could find that finishing blow, with multiple long rallies extending the match. The Tigers extended a 22-20 lead before UCO fought back to tie things up at 23. Spainhour gave the home team a shot at the set with a kill, but the Bronchos stayed alive with a kill of their own. UCO handed the Tigers a gift with a service error, but the Tigers couldn’t put it away, posting back-to-back attack errors. A block from Megan Anderson and Christensen gave the Tigers another serve at set point, 28-27, before the Bronchos scored the next three to steal the victory.

Hannah Wagy topped the 50-assist barrier for the fourth time this season, tossing up 52 in the match. Spainhour (12) and Dixon (11) also reached double-digits in kills, while Christensen recorded a match-high five blocks. Libero Kailey Klibbe led the match with 30 digs, tied for the most in a match by a Tiger this season (Ari Jacobsen vs. NWOSU, 9/2/16).

The Tigers will look to bounce back on Saturday (Oct. 15) when they face off with Pittsburg State at 2 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State Athletics will enshrine five new members into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 22, 2016. The inductees include Jim Birnbaum (track & field/cross country), Zach Kindler (track & field), Jon Mastin (football), Larry Noffsinger (football), and Andrea (Logan) Wyant (volleyball). The induction ceremony will take place the morning of October 22 at the Memorial Union Ballroom on the campus of Fort Hays State University at 10 am. The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the football game vs. Missouri Western at 2 p.m.

Jim Birnbaum – Track & Field/Cross Country (1970-73)
Jim Birnbaum, native of WaKeeney, Kansas, was an All-America performer in both cross country and track and field at Fort Hays State and was an individual National Champion in the 3000-meter steeplechase. He competed for three years at FHSU. In 1972, Birnbaum finished fourth at the NAIA Championship to earn All-America honors with a 5-mile time of 24:56. He helped FHSU to two conference championships in cross country. In the spring of 1972, Birnbaum earned All-America honors for indoor track and field as a member of the 2-mile relay team that placed third at the national meet. Later that spring, he was the national champion in the 3000-meter steeplechase, earning All-America honors for the outdoor season. In the spring of 1973, he earned indoor All-America honors in the mile and outdoor All-America honors in the steeplechase. He helped FHSU Track and Field to three straight conference championships from 1971 to 1973. Overall, Birnbaum was a five-time All-American at FHSU in cross country and track and field combined.

Zach Kindler – Men’s Track and Field (1998-2003) (posthumous)
Zach Kindler, native of Esbon, Kansas, was a four-time All-American for Fort Hays State in outdoor track and field in the javelin. Kindler won the NCAA Division II National Championship in javelin during his junior year of 2001. He also garnered third, fourth, and sixth place finishes in his career at the national championships. He was a three-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champion in 2000, 2001, and 2003. He still holds the Fort Hays State record for the javelin, heaving a toss of 234-feet, 1-inch, in 2001. Kindler passed away unexpectedly in 2014 while he was the head cross country/track and field coach at Baker University. Overall in his coaching career, he captured 17 team conference championships and was named conference coach of the year 20 times. Prior to his time at Baker, he was head cross country/track and field coach at Kansas Wesleyan University for three years.

Jon Mastin – Football (1965-68)
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Jon Mastin was an NAIA All-American selection in 1965 as a defensive end in his freshman campaign. During that season, he recorded 69 tackles and one interception, averaging 7.6 tackles per game, a very good number for a defensive lineman. He also earned 1st Team All-CIC and All-District 10 honors that season. He suffered an injury that sidelined him the entire 1966 season, a season that saw the Tigers tie for the CIC crown. He was a 1st Team All-CIC selection once again in 1967 as a defensive end with 67 tackles and an interception, averaging 8.4 tackles per game, which was a higher average than his freshman All-American campaign. In 1968, he recorded 57 tackles and recovered three fumbles, averaging 6.3 tackles per game, and garnered All-CIC 2nd Team honors, making him a three-time all-conference selection. Mastin was also a member of the baseball team at FHSU, hitting .248 over three seasons with the team. Injuries prevented him from playing a fourth year in both sports.

Larry Noffsinger – Football (1963-66)
A native of Phillipsburg, Kansas, Larry Noffsinger was a two-time NAIA All-American selection in 1965 and 1966 as a junior and senior at offensive guard for the Tiger football team. He was a two-time All-NAIA District 10 First Team selection in the same seasons. He was an All-CIC Second Team selection in 1965, then an All-CIC First Team selection in 1966 helping the Tigers to a share of the CIC Championship. Noffsinger was a four-year letterwinner for the Tigers. According to positions listed on the all-time All-American list at FHSU, Noffsinger was just one of two FHSU offensive linemen to earn All-American status from 1960 to 1983.

Andrea (Logan) Wyant – Volleyball (2000-03)
Andrea (Logan) Wyant, native of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, was a four-time all-conference selection for Fort Hays State in volleyball from 2000-2003, including three first team selections. She also earned all-region honors as a senior in 2003 and the Co-RMAC East Division Player of the Year in 2001. Logan put down a rally-scoring era single-season school record 591 kills in 2002 as a junior. She is also in the top-10 list for her sophomore (476) and senior (457) seasons. She is second all-time at FHSU in kills with 1,794 and is the career leader in kills during the rally scoring era with 1,524, which doesn’t include her freshman year since rally scoring started in 2001. Logan averaged 4.11 kills per set in her career (second best at FHSU for NCAA II era) and 4.46 per set during the rally scoring era (school record). She is the only player in Fort Hays State’s NCAA Division II history to average over five kills per set in a season, putting down a rate of 5.01 per set as a junior in 2002. She also recorded 1,252 digs (seventh in the Division II era at FHSU) and 236 career blocks. Logan owns the two highest kill totals in a match during the rally scoring era at FHSU, putting down a record 33 against Fort Lewis and 31 against South Dakota in 2002. She is fourth in career service aces during the Division II era at FHSU with 97. She was a member of the 2003 team that earned Fort Hays State’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament.

BOLIVAR, Mo – Fort Hays State improved to 9-3-1 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA with a 1-0 shutout at Southwest Baptist on Thursday. As a result, head coach Craig Shaw reached the 100th win of his career. The Tigers have now won three in a row. The Bearcats are still in search of their first win this season, now 0-12 overall and 0-6 in the conference.

Hannah Smith recorded the only goal of the game by burying a penalty kick in the 7th minute of the game. Both of Smith’s goals this year have been on penalty kicks.

Abbie Flax picked up her seventh win of the season in goal recording two saves, now 7-3-1 on the year. The Tigers controlled the match as they outshot the Bearcats 16-7.

The Tigers look for their fourth consecutive win on Saturday when they travel to Missouri Southern. The match is set for 11 am.

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State kicker Brandon Brown has been named the D2Football.com Co-Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the 54-41 win at Pittsburg State last Saturday.

Brown was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goal attempts and 6-of-6 on extra point attempts. He converted field goals from 19, 38, 37, and 49 yards. The 49-yard field goal was a season long for Brown and tied the seventh longest field goal in FHSU history. He averaged 60.5 yards per kickoff, producing four touchbacks. Brown is now 13-of-14 on field goal attempts this year, with his only miss from over 50 yards.

Brown shares the honor this week with West Alabama kicker Jordan Bennett. Bennett’s numbers were similar to Brown’s for the week, converting four field goal attempts and six extra-point attempts.

Eric Poindexter from Quincy (Ill.) was the D2Football.com Offensive Player of the Week, recording 20 receptions for 317 yards. Brandon Jones of Texas A&M-Kingsville was the Defensive Player of the Week, recording four sacks and six tackles for loss.

FHSU Athletics