HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team fell in straight sets against Lindenwood Friday evening (Oct. 13) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum (14-25, 17-25, 14-25). The Tigers move to 9-14 overall and 1-8 in the MIAA, while the Lions are now 14-8 this season and 5-3 in conference play.
 
The Tigers struggled on offense all evening, accumulating a .056 attack percentage, their second lowest of the season. Lindenwood countered with a .270 swing rate while adding 10 blocks and eight service aces. No individual reached double figures in kills for either squad, with Kylie Rollman pacing the Tigers with eight kills. Taylor White recorded 13 digs and Tatum Bartels added two blocks (one solo) to lead the defense.
 
Lindenwood never trailed in the first set, scoring the first four points and never looking back. The Lions soon built the lead to five, 7-2, but the Tigers slowly chipped away to close within two, 16-14. The visitors stopped the FHSU rally in its tracks, scoring the final nine points to win the opening set convincingly, 25-14.
 
Fort Hays State kept things close to open the second set, trading points with the Lions and leading by as many as two on multiple occasions. A kill from Rollman put the Tigers in front, 12-11, before LU went on an 8-1 run to all of a sudden lead by six, 19-13. The Tigers were unable to respond, dropping the set 25-17.
 
The Tigers appeared poised to extend the match in the third set, leading from the first serve. Fort Hays State padded its lead as high as five, 11-6, prompting a Lindenwood timeout. The Tigers later led 13-8 after a kill from Wallick, but the Lions rallied with a 17-1 run to put the match on ice, securing the set 25-14.
 
Fort Hays State will be on the road for the next two weeks, playing its next six matches away from the Coliseum. The Tigers' next match is set for Friday (Oct. 20) in Joplin, Mo., a 6 p.m. date with Missouri Southern.