November 3rd, 2009.  Durango, CO. -  Up two games to none has haunted the Fort Lewis College Volleyball team this season. After taking a 2-0 lead in sets against the Mountaineers of Western State last night, Fort Lewis fell in the next three sets to be downed 3-2 and see their RMAC Tournament hopes fade away. The Skyhawks needed to win out these last two games to earn a spot in the RMAC tourney in Kearney, NE but will now play their last game of the season this Friday.

Regardless of the outcome, the game was very exciting. The Skyhawks jumped to a quick 8-3 lead in the first set after kills by Taylor Hilberry and Chelsea Flaming. Western state battled back to cut the deficit to 6-9 but that was as close as they would get. Fort Lewis went off on a 16-5 run to take set one in a lopsided score of 25-11.

The second set was back and forth but the Skyhawks were able to keep the lead the entire set. A thunderous spike from Flaming started another 8-3 Skyhawk run to put Fort Lewis up 2-0 in sets. Then came the dreaded intermission which has seemed to slow down the Skyhawks momentum. Western State came out in the third set, down but not depleted as they rallied late in the set after being down 19-21 to take set three 25-23 on a kill by Jamie Hamsa.

The fourth set looked like a reverse of the second set except the Mountaineers held the lead most of the set, going up 15-9 at one point. The Hawks would bounce back with attacks from Hilberry, Flaming and Jordan Squiers to cut Western's lead to 17-15. Unfortunately the Mountainerrs attacks were much too difficult to stop as they stole the fourth set 25-21.

The fifth set started out very promising for Fort Lewis as they put up a quick 3-1 lead with a Flaming block and kill. Their lead would quickly diminish as Western State rattled off seven unanswered points to take the lead 8-6. The Skyhawks tied the game at 10 after Natalie Reed and Flaming blocked a Mountaineer attack. Western State would have energy for one last rally as they went on a 5-2 run to ruin the Skyhawks chance at a fifth consecutive win and a trip to the RMAC Tournament. 

Fort Lewis was led by Flaming who had a stellar night with 23 kills, 2 aces, 8 digs and 3 blocks. Wilson and Hilberry followed with 13 and 12 kills respectively. Adriana Saiz had another impressive evening giving out 49 assists and 3 kills. Kelly McDonald and Iris Frye played fantastic on the defensive side tallying 28 and 17 digs.

The Skyhawks drop to 9-17 overall and 7-11 in the RMAC. They will finish their season this Friday against Mesa State at 7:00pm in Whalen Gymnasium for Senior night.