EMPORIA, Kan. - Despite jumping out to an early lead, the Fort Hays State volleyball team fell in straight sets against Emporia State Sunday afternoon (Oct. 29) inside White Auditorium, 24-26, 18-25, 20-25. The Tigers move to 10-19 overall and 2-12 in MIAA play, while the Hornets are now 14-13 overall and 6-8 in the conference.
 
The Tigers posted a .125 attack percentage in the loss, with Emporia State countering with a .190 swing rate. The visitors picked up seven total blocks, compared to just four from ESU. Eight service aces aided the Hornets to victory, including five from Allie Maloney. Callie Christensen led the Tigers with nine kills, six blocks and a .259 hitting percentage. Amirah Bentley tossed up 29 assists while adding one service ace, three blocks and three kills. Azlyn Cassaday recorded a pair of service aces and 10 digs, joining Taylor White (17) and Abbie Hayes (11) in reaching double figures in digs.
 
The lead changed hands several times early in the first set before FHSU strung together six straight points to turn a 13-12 deficit into an 18-13 lead. Logan Wallick tied things up at 13 before a Hornet error put the Tigers in front. Another Hornet miscue followed a Magan Alexander kill before Cassaday dropped in one of her service aces. Christensen added her fourth kill of the set on the ensuing point, putting FHSU in front by five, the largest lead by either team in the opening frame. Emporia State rallied back to tie the score at 23 before Christensen picked up another kill to help the Tigers reach set point. The Hornets had one last rally in them, capturing the next three points to take the set, 26-24.
 
The Tigers had another early lead in the second set, 7-4, before Emporia State rattled off nine consecutive points to all of a sudden lead by six, 13-7. The Tigers were unable to bounce back, dropping the second frame 25-18.
 
The teams went back-and-forth once again in the third set, a frame that included eight lead changes and 12 ties. The Tigers led as late as 17-16 before the Hornets took the lead for the last time. An ESU miscue pulled the Tigers within one, 20-19, before Emporia State scored five of the final six points to win the set and the match, 25-20.
 
Fort Hays State will return home for its final three games inside Gross Memorial Coliseum next weekend. The Tigers will host No. 13 Central Oklahoma on Friday (Nov. 3) at 6 p.m. before hosting Pittsburg State and Johnson and Wales on Saturday (Nov. 4)