FHSU Athletics

WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State football continues to receive votes in the latest edition of the AFCA Division II Poll, released on Monday (Sept. 28). Despite a 31-24 loss to No. 15 Pittsburg State last week, the Tigers remain among teams receiving votes for the fourth consecutive week. FHSU has a record of 3-1 through four weeks of play.

The Tigers get another stiff test this week for Homecoming as rival Washburn comes to town. Both FHSU and Washburn are receiving votes in the poll and both enter Saturday’s game at 3-1. Washburn had a seven-point win over Pittsburg State in week three and avoided an upset bid from Missouri Southern last week with a six-point win. Washburn is on a three-game win streak after losing its season opener to Lindenwood.

Fort Hays State is among five MIAA schools either in the top 25 or receiving votes. All four Kansas schools in the MIAA are among those five. Pittsburg State (3-1) remained No. 15 this week, while Emporia State (4-0) jumped into the Top 25 for the first time this season at No. 23. Washburn (9 votes) and Fort Hays State (6 votes) are the two Kansas schools receiving votes. Northwest Missouri State (4-0) held steady at No. 3. Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State are the only two schools that remain unbeaten in the MIAA after Week 4. FHSU, Washburn, Pittsburg State, and Missouri Western are all at 3-1.

Below is the AFCA Division II Poll for September 28, 2015.

Others Receiving Votes: Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 29; Arkansas Tech, 28; Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 26; Wingate (N.C.), 23; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 19; Stonehill (Mass.), 11; Washburn (Kan.), 9; West Texas A&M, 7; Colorado Mesa, 6; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 6; Henderson St. (Ark.), 5; East Central (Okla.), 4; Virginia Union, 4; Newberry (S.C.), 2; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 1; Indianapolis (Ind.), 1.

HAYS, Kan. – After a tough 2-1 loss in the MIAA opener against Southwest Baptist on Friday, Fort Hays State bounced back for a 2-0 win over Missouri Southern on Sunday in Hays. The Tigers moved to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA with the win.

The Tigers controlled the match throughout, taking 26 shots to just five for Missouri Southern. The Lions were only able to only get one shot off in the first half. Fort Hays State placed 13 shots on goal in the match and MSSU goalkeeper Shawnee Phillips made 11 saves.

Jordan Hester put the Tigers up 1-0 in the 20th minute on a through pass from Jessica Babyak. Shortly after halftime, Kylee Loneker beat the keeper one-on-one from about 10 yards out to make It 2-0.

Abbie Flax picked up her first win of the season at goalkeeper, now 1-1. She recorded two saves in the match.

The Tigers remain home next week for another pair of MIAA matches. FHSU hosts Lindenwood and Central Missouri over Homecoming weekend in Hays.

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Coming off two thrilling double overtime victories earlier in the week, Fort Hays State looked like it had nothing left in the tank against Texas A&M-International on Sunday at FHSU Soccer Stadium. The Dustdevils stunned the 11th-ranked Tigers by a score of 3-0.

Fort Hays State’s ball control and defense lacked early in the game. TAMIU (2-5 overall) took advantage scoring goals in the 5th and 9th minutes of the game to build an early 2-0 advantage with the wind.

The Tigers (6-2 overall) had the wind in the second half, but TAMIU limited opportunities and then put the match away with a counter attack goal in the 77th minute.

The Tigers were shutout for the first time this season and first time in 10 matches dating back to last season. Michael Yantz took the loss in goal and now sits at 6-2 on the season. TAMIU keeper Miguel Lucio picked up his first win of the season between the pipes.

The shot count was dead even at 13-13. TAMIU fired 11 shots with the wind in the first half, while FHSU fired 10 in the second half.

The Tigers remain at home next week for their first two MIAA matches of the season against Southwest Baptist and Northeastern State.

FHSU Athletics

TOPEKA, Kan. – Fort Hays State Volleyball came up with a monumental win on Saturday night (Sept. 26) in Topeka by defeating No. 7 ranked Washburn in straight sets. With scores of 27-25, 28-26, and 27-25, the Tigers ended a frustrating 19-match losing streak to the Ichabods that dated back to 2006. With the win, the Tigers moved to 9-6 overall and 1-2 in the MIAA, while handing Washburn (13-1, 2-1 MIAA) its first loss of the season.

The Tigers dropped their last 24 contests against ranked opponents before Saturday night in Topeka. The last win over a ranked opponent occurred in 2011 with a 3-2 win over then No. 24 Truman in Hays. It marked Fort Hays State’s first win over Washburn since 2004, when both teams were ranked in a 3-0 win by FHSU in Hays. FHSU was No. 13 at the time, while Washburn was No. 15.

The Tigers needed extra points in each set to pull off the upset. FHSU led 11-6 in the opening set, but saw the lead evaporate on a 5-0 Washburn run. Washburn eventually took a four-point lead before the Tigers stormed back late in the set to tie it 22-22. The teams battled back and forth to a 25-25 deadlock before Megan Anderson and Sydney Dixon closed out the first set with kills.

The Tigers had no letdown early in the second set, building a 10-4 lead. But just like the first set, Washburn went on a big run to tie it at 10-10. FHSU fought off the flurry and moved back in front 15-11 and eventually led by five at 20-15. Washburn made another charge and tied the set 23-23. FHSU had three set points before finally converting on the fourth for a 28-26 win. Rebekah Spainhour had a kill to set up the final set point before Washburn committed a hitting error to make it 2-0 in FHSU’s favor.

In the third set, FHSU built an early four point lead, but Washburn closed and made the set competitive throughout. FHSU fought off a Washburn set point at 24-23 as Washburn committed a hitting error. At 25-25, Spainhour stepped up again for a kill to set up match point. Azlyn Cassaday converted with a service ace out of the Washburn timeout, lifting FHSU 27-25.

FHSU outhit Washburn in the match .205 to .140. FHSU held Washburn under a .200 hitting percentage in all three sets. The Tigers had 11 team blocks throughout the match. Crystal Whitten led the Tigers with 12 kills, while Spainhour added 11. Whitten had a big double-double, adding a team-best 26 digs. Hannah Wagy had 41 assists. Kailey Klibbe recorded 23 digs, while Mallory Flagor added 18 with her eight kills in the match. Dixon and Anderson balanced the offense nicely by combining for 15 kills.

Washburn committed 28 hitting errors in the match. Leanna Willer led WU with 17 kills, while Sarah Vicory added 10. Liz Powell had 43 assists and Alyssa Carney had a team-high 20 digs.

The Tigers hit the road for more conference play next weekend at Central Missouri and Lindenwood.