2025 MIAA Volleyball Championship
Quarterfinals
No. 8 seed Fort Hays State (18-12)
vs. No. 1 seed #6 Nebraska-Kearney (27-2)
Thursday, November 12 • 5 p.m.
Civic Arena • St. Joseph, Mo.
 
The Fort Hays State volleyball team will open postseason play Thursday evening (Nov. 12) when the Tigers take on sixth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 MIAA Championship. First serve between the eighth-seeded Tigers and the top-seeded Lopers is set for 5 p.m. inside the Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo.
 
The Tigers (18-12) finished the regular season eighth in the league standings with a record of 5-7, tied with Central Missouri but claiming the tiebreaker over the Jennies thanks to a head-to-head victory in the penultimate match of the season. The Lopers (27-2) were unbeaten in their 12 conference contests, winning the league by two games over second place.
 
Tickets
- Tickets can be purchased in advance online here or at the gate.
- All-tournament tickets are available for $33.
- Daily tickets will cost $16 for adults, $11 for students and youth.
- Kids four and under will be admitted for free.
 
Live Coverage
- Live video coverage of the tournament will be available on The MIAA Network, while Saturday's championship match will be broadcast live on The Spot Kansas City 38 in the KC area.
- Fans with active monthly or all-access subscriptions will already have access to watch the tournament.
- Other purchase options include a $15 per match fee or a $25 all-tournament pass that gains access to all seven matches of the event.
- Live stats will also be available online here.
 
Team Headlines
- FHSU's 18 wins are the most for the program since 2016 (25-9).
- The Tigers are hitting .220 as a team this season. It is the first time the team has a swing rate over .200 since 2016 (.235).
- The Black and Gold lead the MIAA and rank inside the top 20 in Division II with 1,475 total kills and 1,377 assists this season.
 
All-MIAA Selections
- Fort Hays State had a trio of second team All-MIAA selections in Annie Eaton, Ella Goodwin and Ashlyn Reeves.
- Eaton leads the league with 947 assists and 43 service aces while ranking third in the conference with 8.85 assists per set and inside the top 20 in the league with more than three digs per set.
- Goodwin leads the squad and ranks ninth in the conference with an average of 3.10 kills per set (325 total kills) while ranking 11th with 3.41 points per stanza and 20th with an attack percentage of .265.
- Reeves leads the Tigers with an average of one block per set, ranking 10th in the league with 92 rejections this season. Her attack percentage of .312 leads the Tigers amongst qualified individuals and is eighth-best in the conference.
- It is the second-straight conference honor for Reeves after the middle blocker was an honorable mention selection last season.
 
Postseason History
- This is FHSU's seventh trip to the tournament since joining the MIAA in 2006.
- It is the first time the Tigers have qualified for the postseason in three-straight seasons since 2001-05.
- The Tigers are in search of their first postseason victory since 2004.
 
On the Prowl
- Fort Hays State totaled 85 kills in its win over Pittsburg State, more than any other Division II team this season and tied for the most in a match at any level of NCAA volleyball in 2026 (Western Carolina, 85 kills vs. Samford, 10/2/26)
- That total is second-most at FHSU during the rally-scoring era (since 2001) and the most in a match by the Tigers since 2003.
 
Nationally Ranked Opponents
- Friday's match will be FHSU's 10th time playing a nationally ranked opponent this season.
- The Tigers defeated No. 15 Washburn while taking at least one set in all but four of the previous nine matches.
 
Scouting the Opposition
- UNK had seven All-MIAA selections, including four first teamers and the co-libero of the year in Ellie Spang.
- The Lopers hit .292 as a team in the regular season, tops in the conference and sixth-best in Division II.
 
Series History
- FHSU is looking for its first win over the Lopers since 2003, a span of 41 matches.
- The Lopers lead the all-time series, 109-9.
 
Looking Ahead
Should the Tigers advance, they would face off with the winner of Central Oklahoma and Emporia State at 7:30 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 13), with the title game set for 6 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 14).