Hesston snaps No. 11 Greyhounds' win streak

Friday, October 3, 2014

Tribune Staff Report

HESSTON -- On the same day that Fort Scott Community College's volleyball team moved up two spots to the No. 11 position in the NJCAA Division II poll, they were handed perhaps one of the most stunning upsets in the nation this season here Wednesday night.

D-II independent Hesston, playing on its home court, took down Fort Scott in the volleyball eqivalent of three buzzer-beaters, winning 25-23, 25-23 and 28-26.

Fort Scott (21-3) saw a 15-match winning streak broken while Highland (14-5) won its fifth straight match. The Greyhounds had last lost on Aug. 30 to Division I Paris, Texas at a tournament in the Lone Star State. They beat Division III Richland in the last game of the tournament, then went undefeated in September (14-0). This was not a Jayhawk Conference matchup but the outcome could come back to affect seeding for the Region VI Division II post-season tournament. All 10 Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division teams and Hesston will participate in that tournament in November.

For Fort Scott, Shelbey Baker and Molly Hothan each had 10 kills. Kortney Blaufuss had 36 assists. Terina Harris picked up 29 digs, Baker 17 and Brandi Huesman 12. Sheri Middleton had 6 total blocks (one solo, 5 assists). Huseman also served 2 aces.

The Greyhounds had the statistical advantage in nearly every area. Kills went in their favor, 38-31. Assists went their way 36-19. They had more blocks, 74-41, and more blocks, 19-4.

But the Larks had a much better kill percentage, .133 to .029. Fort Scott committed 34 errors in attack while Hesston recorded only 16. The 'Hounds had 15 errors in the third set while Hesston committed only 6.

The Greyhounds look to get back on track today at the Neosho County tournament in Chanute. They face Pratt and the Oklahoma Baptist junior varsity today and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Marshalltown, Iowa, Saturday. Fort Scott has straight-set wins over both Division I Pratt and D-II NEO this season. The 'Hounds played in a tournament at Marshalltown but did not play the host school.