FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
HAYS, Kan. – After taking a short break from MIAA play on Tuesday, the Fort Hays State volleyball team will return to conference action this week when 10th-ranked Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State come to town. The Tigers will face off with the Bronchos on Friday (Oct. 14) at 6 p.m. before dueling with the Gorillas on Saturday (Oct. 15) at 2 p.m.
The Tigers are coming off a pair of victories on Tuesday, entering the weekend 18-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play. Head coach Kurt Kohler’s squad, victorious in four of its last six outings, currently ranks sixth in the MIAA, one-half game behind fifth-place Missouri Western.
Fort Hays State holds a .232 attack percentage to date while limiting its opponents to a .136 percentage. The Tigers rank second in the conference in both blocks per set (2.37) and assists per set (12.8).
Crystal Whitten has maintained her lead in kills per set in the MIAA, averaging 3.97 kills per frame. Rebekah Spainhour’s team-best .354 attack percentage ranks fifth in the conference. Senior setter Hannah Wagy ranks third in the league with 11.29 assists per set. Callie Christensen tops the conference with 94 total blocks, 19 more than Spainhour who is tied for second at 75.
Christensen will reach 200 career blocks with her first block of the weekend. Wagy needs 14 assists to climb into the top five of the career assists list during the program’s Division II era.
Fort Hays State vs. No. 10 Central Oklahoma Friday, October 14 6 p.m.
Hays, Kan. Gross Memorial Coliseum UCO leads all-time series, 13-10
The Bronchos head into the weekend ranked third in the MIAA with a 6-1 record and a 20-1 mark overall. UCO carries the second-best hitting percentage in the conference into the match at .270, holding opponents to a .098 swing rate. They rank second in the conference with an average of 1.62 service aces each set.
Taylor Bevis leads the team with 3.67 kills per set, third-best in the league. Allison Barr ranks fourth in the MIAA with a .364 attack percentage while setter Katy Davis ranks second with 11.32 assists each frame. Mehana Fonseca tops the league with 0.45 service aces per set.
The Tigers are 1-4 against UCO in Hays all-time, with the lone win coming in 1980.
Fort Hays State vs. Pittsburg State Saturday, October 15 2 p.m.
Hays, Kan. Gross Memorial Coliseum FHSU leads all-time series, 32-27
The Gorillas have played to a 4-15 record so far this season, picking up a 2-5 record in MIAA play along the way. They are riding a two-match winning streak after dropping five-straight to open the conference season, beating Southwest Baptist and Missouri Southern in straight sets.
Pittsburg State has hit at a .145 clip so far this season compared to a .206 attack percentage by its opponents. Maggie Highberger leads the team with 176 kills this season, averaging 2.59 kills per set. Carolina VanBuskirk orchestrates the offense from the setter position, averaging 7.43 assists per frame. Ashlen Schwartz paces the team with 259 digs so far this year, averaging 3.75 per set.
Kohler has four wins in 13 matches against the Gorillas since taking over the reins in 2009.