Fort Hays State Volleyball (12-9, 4-8 MIAA)
at Emporia State (15-7, 7-5 MIAA)
Friday, November 8 • 6 p.m.
Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium
 
at Washburn (18-4, 9-3 MIAA)
Saturday, November 9 • 6 p.m.
Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena
 
The Fort Hays State volleyball team looks to continue its push to the MIAA Tournament this weekend when they take on a pair of in-state rivals on the road. The Tigers will open the weekend at Emporia State on Friday (Nov. 8) before traveling to Topeka to take on Washburn on Saturday (Nov. 9). Both matches will begin at 6 p.m.
 
Both matches will be broadcast live via The MIAA Network on a pay-per-view basis. Fans can purchase access to a single broadcast for $15, a monthly recurring subscription for $30 and a year-long MIAA Network All-Access pass for $140.
   
The Tigers are tied for ninth in the league standings but rank eighth in the updated KPI standings which will be used to determine tournament seeding. The Hornets enter the weekend fifth in the overall standings and sixth in the KPI rankings, while Washburn is third in both standings.
 
Fort Hays State has won three of its last four matches, defeating Arkansas-Fort Smith on the road before handling Newman and Pittsburg State at home over the weekend. The Tigers rank fifth in the MIAA in blocks per set, averaging 2.28 each frame. Both Taytum Lovesee (1.07 blocks per set) and Ashlyn Reeves (1.01 blocks per set) are averaging more than one block per set, making FHSU the only school in the conference with multiple players averaging over one rejection per frame.
 
Gracie Rains is just one-hundredth away from the conference lead in kills per set, averaging 3.55 kills per frame which is just behind Emporia State's Weronika Wrzesinksa at 3.56 kills per set. She is also second in total kills, accumulating 302 so far this year.
 
Caiya Stucky is averaging 8.94 assists per set, sixth-most in the MIAA, while her 742 total assists are fifth-most in the league.
 
Kirsten Evans ranks 10th in the conference in digs per set at 4.08 per frame while she is tied for seventh in the league with 27 service aces.
 
Emporia State enters the weekend 15-7 overall and 7-5 in league play after dropping two of its last three matches. The Hornets are 3-2 at home this season. The Hornets rank third in the MIAA with 135 service aces while they are fifth in hitting percentage (.205) and in kills (13.47 per set). Weronika Wrzesinska leads the MIAA with an average of 3.56 kills per frame, while Rayishon Jackman is fourth in the league with an average of 3.46 kills per set.
 
Washburn heads into the weekend 18-4 on the year and 9-3 in conference action. The Ichabods are undefeated at home this season, going 5-0 inside Lee Arena so far in 2024. Alex Dvorak ranks second in the conference with 1.28 blocks per set and is tied for second with teammate Bella Limback in hitting percentage at .368.