Fort Hays State Volleyball heads out on the road this weekend for matches in Joplin, Mo., and Edmond, Okla. The Tigers take on Missouri Southern on Friday (Oct. 17) at 7 p.m., before closing the weekend with a doubleheader at Central Oklahoma on Saturday (Oct. 18). FHSU plays the Bronchos at 2 p.m., followed by a matchup with Bacone College, scheduled to begin at approximately 4 p.m.
FHSU (7-12, 2-9 MIAA) has lost six straight, and will look to snap the streak against a team (MSSU) the Tigers defeated, 3-1, earlier this season at home. FHSU lost to UCO, 3-0, that same weekend, and will take on Bacone in a neutral site game, the Tigers' final non-conference game of the year.
The Tigers'
Mallory Flagor has led the offense all season, and ranks among the MIAA's best with 247 kills on the season, averaging 3.48 per set.
Taylor Mares is second on the team with 161 kills, while
Rebekah Spainhour has quietly climbed to third on the team in kills (161) from the middle hitter position. Spainhour also leads the defense with 50 blocks (nine solo).
Setters
Libby Ary (400 assists) and
Kristin Conor (319 assists) share time at setter, and
Keanu Bradley ranks in the top five of the MIAA with 362 digs (5.17 per set).
Katie Politte's 228 kills is a team-high for MSSU (5-14, 2-9 MIAA), followed closely by Krishna Merriman, who has 222 kills. Abby Finder has 664 assists on the year to go with 183 digs, second most on the squad behind Katie Wiele (277 digs). Callie Whetstone leads the Lions with 107 blocks (14 solo) for the season.
UCO (17-2, 9-2 MIAA) has won four straight matches in conference play, led by Barbara Jackson (257 kills, 30 blocks). Katy Davis manages the offense at setter, picking up 797 assists for the year, while Whitney Gifford's 378 digs is a team-high. Juliette Smith has 90 total blocks for the year, 25 of which are solo.
BU (6-14) competes in the Red River Athletic Conference, and is led offensively by Jade Tigilau, who has 259 kills. Setter Toree Misa'alefua has 509 assists on the year and has dug up 187 attacks, while Stephanie Aikens leads the team in digs, with 222, just ahead of Marissa Cortez's 221 digs. At the net, Latisha Brittenham has 39 blocks, and Tigilau is second with 22 blocks (11 solo).
