Fort Hays State Volleyball dropped a 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 28-26) contest to eighth-ranked Washburn, spoiling the Tigers' Pack the Gym event on Tuesday (Sept. 23).
 
FHSU (6-6, 1-3 MIAA) battled to within two points of forcing a fourth set, but couldn't complete the set victory as Washburn (11-1, 3-1 MIAA) sealed the win.
 
With the Tigers leading 4-1 in the first, Washburn rallied to tie it at four before back-and-forth play brought it to 8-all.  From there, the Ichabods ran off two quick points and never relinquished the lead. Though FHSU rallied to within one (20-19) late in the set, WU closed the frame on a 5-1 run to take a lead in the match.
 
In the second frame, the Ichabods broke out on a 10-2 lead before FHSU answered on a 10-4 run.  Down two (14-12), the Tigers allowed 11 straight points by WU and dropped the set, 25-12.
 
After intermission, FHSU hung with the Ichabods until 8-8, when a six-point burst forced a Tigers' timeout, down 14-8.  After the reset, FHSU began a climb back into contention, tying it at 17-all and taking a 19-17 advantage.  The final six points of that rally were unanswered by the Ichabods. 
 
Later in the set, FHSU led by four (23-19), but a 5-0 run by Washburn gave the Ichabods an advantage, looking at match point (24-23).  Fort Hays State forced a win-by-two situation after Mallory Flagor's final kill of the night tied it at 24, but after battling to 26-all, FHSU dropped two quick points to the Ichabods, and the set, 28-26.
 
Flagor pushed her double-digit kills' streak to 11 games with 10 kills in the set, finishing as the only Tiger in double-digits. Flagor added three block assists as well.
 
Sara Hewson had six kills to go with 11 digs on the outside, while Rebekah Spainhour had five kills and three block assists, tied for second on the team. 
 
Taylor Mares had four block assists, while Callie Christensen added four total blocks (one solo). 
 
The announced attendance of 1,123 for Pack the Gym night was one short of tying the school's single game attendance record for a volleyball match at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
 
Fort Hays State hits the road this weekend to begin a four-game road trip, which starts at Southwest Baptist on Friday, Sept. 26.  Match time in Bolivar, Mo., is set for 7 p.m.