EMPORIA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team dropped a three-set match to Emporia State Saturday evening (Oct. 11), losing 25-22, 25-17, 25-21. The Tigers (13-6, 2-5 MIAA) kept things close all evening, creating 27 ties and nine lead changes throughout the match, but the Hornets (15-3, 6-1 MIAA) managed enough firepower to take home the win.

After trailing by as many as five late in the first set, a pair of Gracie Rains kills and three Hornet miscues helped Fort Hays State score five in a row and tie things up at 18. The score remained level until it was 21-21 when ESU scored four of the last five to take the frame, 25-22.

The Tigers kept things close early in the second set, leading as late as 8-7, but Emporia State closed the frame on a 15-7 run to turn a 10-10 tie into a 25-17 win.

Emporia State scored the first four points of the third set, but the Tigers answered right back with a 5-1 run to tie things at five. A kill from Ella Goodwin gave the Tigers their first lead of the set at 9-8. FHSU led by two as late as 16-14 before six-straight Hornet points gave the home team a 20-16 lead. Two kills from Rains and a successful challenge helped the Tigers narrow the deficit to a pair, 21-19, but the Hornets were able to close out the win with a 4-2 run to close the stanza.

Rains led the offensive efforts for Fort Hays State, recording 11 kills on 21 attempts with a .429 hitting percentage. Galt facilitated the attack with 19 assists and contributed defensively with seven digs. Kirsten Evans registered 11 digs and added one service ace. Grace Schmedding anchored the defense, collecting 16 digs over three sets.

The Tigers hit .161 as a team while ESU posted an attack percentage of .286. Both teams racked up 51 digs on the night, while ESU outblocked the Tigers 8-5.

Fort Hays State will return to Gross Memorial Coliseum to play seven of its final nine regular season matches at home. The run starts Friday (10/17) when the Tigers host fourth-ranked Central Oklahoma beginning at 6 p.m.