Box Score
DURANGO, Colo. — The Colorado School of Mines (15-5 overall, 8-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) volleyball team swept Fort Lewis College (12-7, 6-5) in straight sets 25-15, 25-14, 25-16 tonight at Whalen Gymnasium.
The Orediggers relied on strong play at the net, registering nine total blocks and hitting a blistering .415 (48 kills, 9 errors, 94 attempts). Elizabeth Serra-Hsu led the way with 14 kills, 10 digs and four blocks, while Melanie Wannamaker had 10 kills and four blocks.
Normally a solid blocking team, the Skyhawks finished with just one block — one that occurred late in the match. They were also out-dug 54-31 by the Orediggers.
“We struggled to get anything going offensively or defensively against a very well-balanced team,” said seventh-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland, who was trying to become just the third volleyball coach in school history to amass 100 career victories. “I thought our serving was very effective to disrupt their serve-receive offense, but unfortunately we just weren't able to make enough stops to make a difference.”
Aaland singled out junior outside hitter Jessica Wilson. “I thought Jessica did a good job,” she said. “Her passing and her aggressiveness with hitting were really consistent.”
Wilson led the Skyhawks with nine kills and seven digs. Senior middle blocker Taylor Hillberry added eight kills, while Jenna Kinzer had 11 digs.
Freshman setter Hali Groninger had 24 assists in just her second collegiate start and helped FLC improve its hitting efficiency in each set (.054 in the first, .121 in the second, .154 in the third). A knee injury to senior Adriana Saiz in last Friday's five-set win over Adams State thrust the freshman from Denver East into the starting lineup.
Aaland, who owns a 99-90 record in her seven years at the helm of the Skyhawk program, will attempt to join her former coach, Marcy Jung (218-203 record, 1986-1998), and Peppy Seale (155-157-5, 1969-1985) in the 100-win club at Fort Lewis College when her squad hosts No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney (19-3 overall, 10-0 RMAC) at 6 p.m. tomorrow.
