-FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State University Volleyball used an all-around effort to knock off Southwest Baptist, 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 25-13) Friday for its fourth straight victory.
The Tigers (11-12, 5-9 MIAA) hit .245 as a team, swinging .484 in the final set while winning the team battles in kills (57-54), digs (83-73), service aces (6-4) and blocks (8-4). Each squad had 53 assists on the evening.
Down 6-2 early in the first, FHSU rallied after a timeout with a 6-0 run to take an 8-6 lead before back-and-forth play brought the teams to a 16-all tie. From there, the Tigers broke out on their second 6-0 run of the set to grab a 21-15 lead. Though SBU climbed back into contention, FHSU hung on and took the set, 25-22.
In the second frame, SBU again jumped out to an early lead (up 12-5 at one point), and despite a late FHSU rally, remained in control for a 25-20 set win, tying the match at 1-1.
Out of intermission, SBU grabbed a 3-0 lead before the Tigers woke up, clawing back into the match to tie it, 10-10. From there, the teams traded points until 16-all, when FHSU scored three unanswered (19-16) for much needed separation. FHSU again held off a late burst from SBU, grabbing a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-21 win.
The final set proved to be all FHSU, as the Tigers led 10-3 early on before stretching the lead to nine (19-10) later in the set. The Tigers largest lead of the night (12) came soon after on a 25-13 match point.
Three players saw double-digits in kills, as Mallory Flagor, Callie Christensen and Taylor Mares each had 11 to tie for the team-lead. Flagor’s six block assists was a team-high, while Christensen had four blocks.
Raegan Vanderplas led the team with 25 assists, adding 18 digs, which was second on the team behind libero Keanu Bradley (26 digs). Kristin Conor added 20 assists and 13 digs, while Teresa Wade had 11 digs and eight kills, just behind Rebekah Spainhour’s nine kills.
The Tigers will be looking for their fifth-straight win on Saturday when Pittsburg State comes to Gross Memorial Coliseum. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m.