Box Score
DURANGO, Colo. — The Fort Lewis College volleyball team (14-8 overall, 8-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) rewarded its three seniors with a straight-game sweep over Colorado State University-Pueblo (7-15, 2-12) tonight at Whalen Gymnasium, winning 25-17, 25-14, 25-11.
“Tonight was a vast improvement over the last time we played them,” seventh-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland said in reference to a five-game thriller the Skyhawks won in Pueblo on Sept. 25. “We had an identity that continued to grow stronger as we played and at the same time we limited their opportunities with our blocking. It was a well-rounded performance for the entire team and it was great for the seniors.”
Fort Lewis hit a blistering .389, notching 33 kills and just five errors in 72 attempts. The ThunderWolves, on the other hand, hit just .011 with 27 errors offsetting their 28 kills. Nearly half of their errors — 13 — came by the way of the block. Haley Jennings led the way with six total blocks (two solo), while Taryn Pearce added four blocks and Hali Groninger and Taylor Hillberry recorded three each.
The Skyhawk attack was evenly distributed. Outside hitters Jessica Wilson and Chelsea Flaming had eight and seven kills, respectively, and combined for zero errors.
Each team recorded 31 digs, with Flaming the only player on either side recording double-digit digs (12).
While the game commemorated the three Skyhawks seniors — Flaming, Hillberry and injured setter Adriana Saiz — it isn't the home finale. Fort Lewis caps its 2010 home slate at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4 against RMAC West Division-leading Mesa State (15-7 overall, 9-4 RMAC). The team chose tonight as senior night to allow out-of-town parents to travel to Durango for the pre-game ceremony.
Fort Lewis hits the road for two key RMAC matches next weekend, visiting New Mexico Highlands (4-19, 0-14) at 7 p.m. on Friday and Western New Mexico (10-9, 8-6) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30. The Skyhawks and Mustangs are currently tied for second place in the RMAC West Division, 1.5 games behind division-leading Mesa State.
