Kansas City, Mo. — Fort Hays State’s Jenna Ulrich was named the MIAA Hitter of the Week while Nebraska-Kearney’s Kaleigh Anderson earned Specialist of the Week honors for week five.

MIAA Hitter of the Week
Jenna Ulrich, MH, Fort Hays State 
Ulrich was highly instrumental in giving FHSU it’s first ever conference win over Emporia State, snapping a 13 match losing streak to the Hornets on Saturday. Ulrich put up one of the best individual performances for FHSU in it’s NCAA history, putting down 18 kills in the four set win over the Hornets without committing an error in 30 attempts. It marked the most kills by a Tiger with no errors in the rally scoring era passing the old mark of 15 kills set by Amber Zogleman in 2003. It also marked the most total kills without an error in any era since 1998 when Julie Stanley had 19 kills without an error against Mesa State. Ulrich also added seven kills in a loss to #3 Washburn, a match in which two of the sets were decided by only two points. She had six blocks against Washburn and five against Emporia State to average 1.57 blocks per set on the week. She hit a team best .489 over the two matches last week averaging 4.50 points per set. The 6-1 junior middle hitter is a native of Luray, Kan. where she competed at Lucas-Luray High School.

MIAA Specialist of the Week 
Kaleigh Anderson, L, Nebraska-Kearney 
Had a career high 33 digs in the Lopers four set victory over #3 Washburn. The total is seven off the school record and a new record for the Lopers in a four set match. She had 27 digs in the UNK come from behind win over Emporia State on Friday. She averaged 6.67 digs per set on the weekend. The 5-7 senior libero is a native of Lincoln, Neb. where she competed at Lincoln Southwest High School.

– MIAA –

Kansas City, Mo. — Lindenwood’s Ben Gomez, Fort Hays State’s Layton Hickel and Emporia State’s Eli Kuhns earned this weeks MIAA Football Athlete of the Week Awards for the fifth week of play.

MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week
Ben Gomez, QB, Lindenwood 
Gomez had one of the best passing days in MIAA history as he tied an MIAA record by throwing six touchdown passes against Nebraska-Kearney. He had the third most passing yards in a single game and most against a conference opponent in MIAA history as he threw for 480 yards and finished just 13 yards shy of the MIAA record despite not playing in the fourth quarter. His numbers tied the Lindenwood single game touchdown record and broke the school’s passing yardage record by 35 yards and was the fifth most completions in a single game. He becomes just the third Lindenwood quarterback to have two 400 yard passing games in his career, something he has done in just five games played. The 6-0 junior quarterback is a native of San Juan Capistrano, Calif. where he attended San Clemente High School and played two years at Saddleback Community College prior to joining the Lions.

MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week 
Layton Hickel, LB, Fort Hays State 
Hickel had a career high 15 tackles as Fort Hays State earned their first win of the season. He had a half sack and forced a fumble in the game as well. His biggest play came after the start of the second half just after FHSU Quarterback Tarean Austin was sacked and fumbled deep in their own territory. Hickle returned the favor when he forced a fumble on the very next play to give FHSU the ball back denying TSU an excellent scoring opportunity deep in Tiger territory. This kept the lead for the Tigers at 21-10 as they would hold on for victory. The 6-3 senior linebacker is a native of Claflin, Kan. where he attended Claflin High School.

MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week 
Eli Kuhns, K, Emporia State 
Kuhns tied the Emporia State single game record and long distance record with four made field goals including a 51 yarder in the Hornets 37-26 victory over Lincoln. He was one of three Hornets to hit a field goal on the day as Emporia State broke the MIAA record of six made field goals set in 1985 by Central Missouri against Southeast Missouri. Primarily the long distance kicker for ESU he made field goals of 38, 37, 43 and 51 yards to tie Justin Gray’s 2004 record and Matt Perry’s 2008 record. His 51 yards tied Gray’s school record first set against Pittsburg State in 2002 and tied again by Gray in 2003 and 2004. It is the only field goal in the MIAA of over 50 yards on the season and he is now six of eight on field goals this year with his shortest attempt being from 37 yards. The 6-2 freshman kicker is a native of Copperas Cove, Texas where he attended Copperas Cove High School.

– MIAA –

The Tiger women’s soccer team scored two second half goals and pulled to a 2-0 shutout victory over Emporia State on Sunday at the FHSU Soccer Stadium in Hays. The Tigers moved to 7-3 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA, while ESU dropped to 3-6-1 and 0-4-1 in the MIAA.

After a scoreless first half, the Tigers wasted little time in the second half, scoring in the 48th minute. An Alexis Aiman corner kick was headed by Bethany Keefer to Sade Humphrey who knocked in the goal, her team-high sixth of the season, for a 1-0 Tiger lead.

Ember Albertson added the insurance goal in the 88th minute to push the margin to 2-0. Humphrey sent in a cross from the left side that Albertson tapped in in front of the goal.

The Tigers controlled the second half with 10 shots and held the Hornets to zero shots. For the match, FHSU totaled 15 shots to three from ESU.

Nicole Barnaba got the shutout in goal for FHSU, her fourth of the season in 10 games. She made two saves.

The Tigers return to action on Friday at Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. for a 4 p.m. match against the Bronchos.

– FHSU Sports Information –

The Fort Hays State football team amassed 541 yards of total offense as they hold on for a 37-23 victory over Truman State Saturday afternoon at Stokes Stadium in Kirksville.

Chris Brown Postgame Interview
Coaches Interview

Game Highlights
Game Highlights

Tarean Austin’s five-yard touchdown run with 4:38 to play in the first quarter gave the Tigers their first lead of the season. Cornelius Gallon hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass from Travious Albert to put FHSU up 14-7 one play into the second quarter and helped the Tigers build a 21-10 lead at halftime.

FHSU pushed the lead to 28-10 with 11:14 to play in the fourth quarter folllowing a two-yard touchdown pass from Austin to Treyvious Alexander.

Truman came storming back, taking advantage of an interception and a muffed punt, to score 13 unanswered points to pull within five at 28-23 with 7:33 to play.

The Tigers answered with a 22-yard Drew O’Brien field goal to push the lead to eight at 31-23.

The Bulldogs drove to the FHSU 28 yard line, but Stephen Marcotte broke up a pass on fourth down.

Tarean Austin then put the game away, rushing for a 67 yard touchdown on third and five.

Austin led the Tigers with 136 rushing yards and 140 passing yards, completing 14-of-30. He rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two.

Traveon Albert had over 200 yards of total offense, passing for 53, rushing for 81 and led the Tigers with six catches for 72 yards.

Traveon Albert/A.J. Woodall Postgame Interview
Player Interviews

The victory ends a five-game losing streak for the Tigers who improve to 1-4. They 4-1 Lindenwood for homecoming next Saturday at 7pm.

The No. 9 Fort Hays State men’s soccer team dropped a close 1-0 match to No. 21 Lindenwood on Thursday at the FHSU Soccer Stadium in Hays. The loss drops the Tigers to 7-2 and 3-1 in the MIAA, which drops FHSU to third in the standings, while Lindenwood is 6-1-2 and 3-0-1 in the MIAA.

The lone goal came in the 58th minute off a corner kick. The Lions Craig McTear headed in the corner for the 1-0 Lions lead.

The Tigers managed seven shots in the match, and the Lions totaled 13, including eight in the second half. In a physical match, each team was called for six fouls.

Kent Freund went the whole 90 minutes in goal for the Tigers, making five saves and allowing the one goal. He is 2-1 on the season.

The loss is the first home loss of the season for the Tigers, who were 4-0 at FHSU Soccer Stadium before Thursday night’s match.

Fort Hays State continues its homestand with a match against Southwest Baptist on Saturday at 12 p.m.