EMPORIA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team dropped its conference opener Friday (Sept. 15), falling to Emporia State in three sets, 23-25, 19-25, 19-25. The Tigers move to 6-4 on the season and 0-1 in MIAA play, while the Hornets are now 7-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
 
The first set was a back-and-forth battle, with neither side leading by more than three points. The opening frame included 13 ties and five lead changes. Both teams performed well offensively, with each side recording attack percentages better than .340 and neither team committing more than five attack errors.  The Tigers led as late as 23-22, but three consecutive Hornet kills gave the home team the victory.
 
The Hornets pulled away early in the second set, leading by as many as five midway through the frame, 15-10. The Tigers battled back within two thanks to a 7-4 run that included kills from four different Tigers, but Emporia State responded by scoring six of the final eight points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Fort Hays State grabbed an early lead in the third set, leading 4-0 and later 14-11 before the Hornets scored five of the next six to take the lead for good.
 
The Hornets posted an attack percentage of .333 (47-13-102) while holding FHSU to a swing rate of .208 (40-18-106). Riley Tinder led the team with 12 kills, while Emily Ellis and Claire Olson both recorded two blocks. Brooke Hyland racked up a team-best 12 digs, with Caiya Stucky distributing 32 assists on the night.
 
The Tigers will wrap up their quick road trip Saturday (Sept. 16) when they take on No. 15 Washburn beginning at 2 p.m. in Topeka, Kan.