Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. — Facing the No. 9 team in the nation and coming off a pair of lackluster efforts, the Fort Lewis College volleyball team gave the Homecoming faithful plenty to cheer about despite losing in straight sets to the University of Nebraska-Kearney 25-17, 25-16, 25-22 in Whalen Gymnasium tonight.

Playing their third straight game with freshman setter Hali Groninger filling in for injured starter Adriana Saiz, the Skyhawks (12-8 overall, 6-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, played some of their most inspired volleyball of 2010.

“I was very pleased to see the effort and enthusiasm that we played that game with,” said seventh-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland. “While we didn't get the result, it was a great momentum builder to go back to the [RMAC] West.”

“They all did a good job of doing their jobs,” Aaland said of her team. “That enabled us to be competitive with one of the best teams in the country.”

The visiting Lopers (21-3, 12-0) proved why they're ranked among the nation's elite.

Setter Cola Svec notched 36 assists while the Lopers amassed 47 kills and a .248 hitting percentage. She added 15 digs, three assists and a pair of kills.

Jeri Walkowiak added 12 kills, while Ariel Krolikowski hada double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs for UNK.

The Skyhawks were paced by outside hitter Chelsea Flaming's 15-kill, 12-dig match. Flaming hit .333 for the night.

Groninger played her best volleyball of her young collegiate career, nearly matching Svec, the Preseason All-RMAC setter, with 34 assists of her own.

Freshman libero Jenna Kinzer had 18 digs, many of the acrobatic variety, while outside hitter Jessica Wilson added 16 digs and eight kills for FLC.

The Skyhawks led for much of the third set, hoping to do what only two RMAC teams have done thus far in 2010: keep the Lopers from winning in straight sets. Fort Lewis led 20-18 in the third set before the Lopers reeled off five straight points. Svec had back-to-back service aces to give UNK a 21-20 lead before Katie Sokowloski notched consecutive kills to stretch the Loper lead to 23-20. The Skyhawks trimmed the lead to 23-22 before UNK recorded the final two points of the game.

Fort Lewis stays at home next weekend, hosting Western State College (9-9 overall, 4-7 RMAC) at 7 p.m. on Friday and Colorado State University-Pueblo (6-13, 2-10) at 7 p.m. on Saturday.