Fort Hays State Volleyball dropped a 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-15) match to Northwest Missouri State on Saturday (Oct. 11) at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
 
FHSU dropped to 7-11 (2-8 MIAA) on the season while NWMSU improved to 9-9 (6-4 MIAA).
 
FHSU led for a majority of the first set, jumping out to a 13-7 lead before the Bearcats called a timeout. NWMSU climbed back to within three (13-10) after the break, but the Tigers stretched the lead back to six soon after, leading 18-12 after a kill from Callie Christensen. 
 
The Tigers' offense went cold, however, and allowed an 11-1 run to fall behind, 23-19.  Two Bearcat attack errors stopped the run, but Fort Hays State couldn't come back further, dropping the set 25-22.
 
The second again saw FHSU take an early lead (10-7) before a three-point run for NWMSU tied it, 10-all.  The teams played relatively back-and-forth ball until 17-all, when NWMSU grabbed two quick points, finding breathing room at 19-17.  The Tigers closed the gap to one (23-22), but two kills by the Bearcats' ended the set, 25-22.
 
Trailing 2-0 for the match after intermission, FHSU hung tough with the Bearcats' early in the third set, leading 8-7 before a three-point burst by NWMSU gave them the lead for good.  Fort Hays State stayed close, down 12-11, but a run of six unanswered to 18-11 put the match out of reach, and the Tigers dropped the set, 25-15.
 
Mallory Flagor led the team with eight kills, while Sara Hewson added seven kills and Rebekah Spainhour had six kills. 
 
Libby Ary's 15 assists was a team-high, and Kristin Conor had 12 assists.  Conor added nine digs, third on the team behind Hewson (10 digs) and Keanu Bradley (20 digs).
 
The Tigers host Emporia State on Tuesday (Oct. 14) in the finale of a three-game home stand.  Game time is set for 6 p.m.