Fort Hays State Volleyball (10-3, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. #7 Nebraska-Kearney (11-1, 0-0 MIAA)
Wednesday, September 16 • 6 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Promotion: Wear Black!

at #13 Washburn (10-2, 0-0 MIAA)
Friday, September 18 • 6 p.m.
Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena

The 2026 Fort Hays State volleyball team opens MIAA play this week against a pair of ranked opponents. The Tigers will first take on seventh-ranked Nebraska-Kearney at home on Wednesday (Sept. 16) beginning at 6 p.m. before heading to the state capital to take on No. 13 Washburn Friday (Sept. 18) at 6 p.m.

All three teams have reached double figures in the win column in the first three weeks of the season, with the Tigers entering the week 10-3 in non-conference play, the Lopers going 11-1 on the year and the Ichabods compiling a 10-2 record.

Match Coverage
- Live video of both matches will be available on The MIAA Network. Fans can purchase access to single matches for $15, a reoccurring monthly subscription for $35 or a season-long all-access pass for $140.
- Radio coverage will be available on KJLS 103.3 FM for Wednesday's match in Hays, with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock on the call.
- Live stats against UNK will be available here, with live stats against WU available online here.

Tickets
- Tickets for the home match are available for $5 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance online at fhsuathletics.com/tickets.
- Tickets in Topeka are available for $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket window.

National Leaders
- Entering Tuesday (Sept. 15), the Tigers' 668 kills and 645 assists are more than any other team in Division II.
- The Tigers are sixth out of 281 Division II programs in kills per set (14.64) and in assists per set (13.72).
- FHSU also ranks sixth in the country with 821 total digs.
 
In Every Match
- The Tigers are one of three MIAA programs to win at least one set in every match played so far this season (MWSU, WU), with the other 10 league schools all losing in a sweep at least once in non-conference play.
 
Efficient Attack
After going 10 years without an attack percentage over .400 against a DII opponent, the Tigers reached that threshold twice in the first two weeks after swinging .442 against Midwestern State and .425 against Sul Ross State.
- The Tigers have hit .300 or better five times and have nine performances of .250 or better.

Balanced Offensive Attack
- Four Tigers average at least 2.5 kills per set, with four more averaging 1.5 or more kills per frame.
- Mylie Brown leads the team and ranks eighth in the conference with an average of 3.13 kills per frame.
- Peyton Bergschneider (2.91 k/s, 15th MIAA) and Ella Goodwin (2.87 k/s, 17th in MIAA) also rank inside the top 20 in the conference in kills.
- Ashlyn Reeves is fourth on the team with an average of 2.50 kills per set while ranking third in the league and in the top 50 nationally with a .399 attack percentage.

Conference Top 10
- Reeves is fourth in the league and 18th nationally with an average of 1.25 blocks per set, while Sofia Ricci ranks eighth in the conference with an average of 1.00 blocks per frame.
- Haylee Wolf is fourth in the conference with an average of 4.72 digs per frame.
- Annie Eaton averages 8.19 assists per frame, seventh-most in the association, while ranking third in the league with 17 service aces on the year.

Nationally Recognized Opponents
- More than half of FHSU's remaining 17 matches are scheduled against teams listed in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll.
- The Tigers are scheduled to play nine more matches against ranked teams, including three of the next four contests against No. 7  UNK, No. 13 WU and No. 18 Emporia State next weekend (Sept. 26).

Looking Ahead
The Tigers will open a five-match homestand next weekend (Sept. 25) when they host in-state rivals Pittsburg State on Friday (6 p.m.) and No. 18 Emporia State on Saturday (2 p.m.).

Scouting the Opposition
#7 Nebraska-Kearney
Record: 11-1 (0-0 MIAA)
Series History: UNK leads, 107-9
Streak: UNK W39
Key Stats: Haven't lost a set after losing in a sweep against Colorado Mesa in the season opener, .295 attack percentage, .073 opponent attack percentage (third in DII), also third in DII with 2.69 blocks per set, Carly Purdy 2.91 kills per set, Ellie Eckman 5.86 assists per set, Ellie Spang 5.00 digs per set, Sydney Davis 1.36 blocks per set.

#13 Washburn
Record: 10-2 (0-0 MIAA)
Series History: WU leads, 58-54
Streak: WU W4
Key Stats: Leads DII with 15.14 kills per set and 14.00 assists per set, lost two of last four matches after opening the season 8-0, .265 attack percentage, .150 opponent attack percentage, Emma Siron 3.77 kills per set, Shannon Frakes 11.23 assists per set, Taylor Rottinghaus 4.63 digs per set, Brooklyn Morrissey 1.03 blocks per set.