Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
The Fort Hays State volleyball team opened its 2012 season with two convincing wins at the Oklahoma-Panhandle State Tournament on Friday (Aug. 31) in Goodwell, Okla. The Tigers dismantled the University of the Southwest in three sets (25-8, 25-18, 25-15) and won three straight sets against Bacone College (25-7, 25-16, 25-12) to go 2-0 on day one. It's the second straight season the Tigers started 2-0.
 
Fort Hays State def. University of the Southwest 3-0 (25-8, 25-18, 25-15)
 
The Tigers started strong in the first set, jumping out to a 7-2 advantage. After going up 12-6, the Tigers scored eight-straight points, including two Kayla Zoglman aces, to take a commanding 20-6 first set lead. FHSU won five of the next seven points to take set one, 25-8.  
 
In set two, the Tigers pulled ahead early, 5-0, on USW, however, the Mustangs battled back to within three at 12-9, forcing FHSU to take a timeout. Still up by three at 18-15, the Tigers notched five-straight points push the lead to 23-15. Kills by Taylor Mares and Tara Hoekman closed out the second set at 25-18.
 
After a close 8-5 start in the third set, middle hitter Kylee Hoagland took over with four straight kills for the Tigers, upping the advantage to 13-5. A Madison Schwartz kill and a couple Mustang errors pushed the margin to 16-6, and the Mustangs used their second timeout. The margin stayed around 10 the rest of the set and a Samantha Ledy kill closed out the set and match for the Tigers.
 
Hoagland led the offense with 12 kills and an impressive .409 hitting percentage. Mares added eight kills, hitting .469 for the match. Libero Makenzie Weinman finished with a match-high 18 digs and Hoekman also hit double digits with 10 digs. Zoglman had 29 of the Tigers' 42 assists with Lauren Lorenz contributing nine assists.
 
Fort Hays State def. Bacone College 3-0 (25-7, 25-16, 25-12)
 
The Tigers pounced on the Warriors early, scoring 10 of the first 11 points for an early 10-1 advantage. Kylee Hoagland put down three kills and Taylor Mares two in the fast start. Back-to-back kills by setter Kayla Zoglman pushed the margin to 14 at 17-3, and the Warriors took a timeout. FHSU continued to control the first set, winning 25-7 with a Mares kill.
 
FHSU couldn't replicate its fast first set start, only pulling ahead to an 11-9 margin. Two Schwartz kills and a Hoagland kill pushed the advantage up to 15-9. Jenna Ulrich's two kills helped FHSU go up 20-13. The Tigers scored four straight points to close out set two.
 
Fort Hays went up 3-0 in set three after back-to-back kills from Hoagland and a service ace from Lauren Lorenz. With it still close at 6-4, Ulrich had a solo block and kill on back-to-back points, and the Tigers went up 9-5. After a kill by Sara Hewson and then three straight points with Hewson on serve, FHSU pulled ahead 13-7. Makenzie Weinman continued the strong serving, getting aces back-to-back. Kills by Schwartz and Samantha Ledy put FHSU up 18-9. Mallory Flagor and Hewson put away the Warriors with kills to end the match.
 
Hoagland added nine kills against Bacone, while Schwartz added eight and Mares totaled six. Mares and Hoagland finished with impressive hitting percentages for the second straight match. Mares hit .750, and Hoagland hit .600. On defense, Weinman's 18 digs were a team and match high, and Sara Hewson hit double digits with 11 digs. Assists were split evenly at 16 each for Zoglman and Lorenz.
 
The Tigers play twice again tomorrow to finish the OPSU Tournament. Fort Hays starts with Fort Lewis at 9 a.m. and plays at 1 p.m. against Southern Arkansas.