HAYS, Kan. (Sept. 30, 2016) – Central Missouri's nine game winning streak was snapped Friday night at the hands of Fort Hays State. The Tigers defeated the Jennies in four sets, 3-1 (25-20, 14-25, 19-25, 23-25) to drop UCM to 12-3 on the season and 2-1 in the MIAA.
For the Jennies,
Kylie Hohlen led the match with 15 kills and had 10 digs.
Molly Lawrence matched a career-high with 13 kills and
Tyler Downs saw her most extensive action, handing out a career-best 21 assists.
The Jennies defense, which had held eight straight opponents below a .200 attack percentage, allowed FHSU to hit .239 for the match.
Katie Carlson led UCM with 16 digs and Lawrence and Mckenzie Harding each had three blocks.
UCM took a 5-1 lead in the opening set and never trailed, getting on the board first with a 25-20 win. With the benefit of a 7-3 run midway through the set, the Jens opened up an 18-11 lead and were able to cruise to a 25-20 win.
This time it was Fort Hays' turn to never trail in a 25-14 second set win. After taking a 3-0 lead, the Tigers jumped on top 12-4 and quickly tied the match at 1-1, winning the frame by 11.
The third set saw both teams trading points at the outset, but a 16-8 run for the Tigers helped them take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Jennies tried to come back, scoring three points at set point, but it wasn't enough as they fell 25-19.
Set four was a wild affair that saw 18 ties and seven lead changes. Neither team had more than a two-point lead at any point in the set. Down early, 11-9, the Jennies got four straight points on four attack errors to take a two-point lead of their own, 13-11. Back-and-forth the teams went for the rest of the set and it was the Tigers who scored last and were able to hang out for a 25-23 set win.
Crystal Whitten's 14 kills led the Tigers, she also had 15 digs. Hannah Wagy dished out 39 assists and Kailey Klibbe picked up a match-high 18 digs.
The weekend doesn't get any easier for UCM as they turn around to face No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney, tomorrow night at 7 p.m. from Kearney, Neb.
