Box Score

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — A day after a slow start hamstrung them in a four-set loss at Western New Mexico University, the Fort Lewis College volleyball team (15-9 overall, 9-7 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) wasted no time by hitting on all cylinders in a three-set defeat of New Mexico Highlands University (4-20, 0-16) tonight at the Wilson Complex.

The Skyhawks trounced the Cowgirls 25-13, 25-16, 25-12 in just one hour, seventeen minutes.

"Everything looked really good," said seventh-year head coach Shelly Aaland. "I was very impressed with the way we were able to get it done from start to finish. Our transition offense as well as our serving were top notch."

Chelsea Flaming led the way with 14 kills, while Taylor Hillberry had 13 kills (and a .632 attack percentage) and Jessica Wilson added 11 digs and seven kills. Setter Adriana Saiz, in just her second match after coming back from a knee injury that sidelined her for five matches, had 36 assists. Freshman right side hitter Taryn Pearce notched six kills.

As a team, FLC dominated the statistics, hitting .376 (45 kills, 10 errors, 93 attempts) to just .009 for Highlands (22 kills, 21 errors, 109 attempts). The Skyhawks out-dug NMHU 51-34, with Jenna Kinzler recording a game-high 19 digs.

Fort Lewis had three service aces — one each for Flaming, Kinzer and Saiz — but disrupted Highlands' serve-receive with effective serving throughout the game.

The Skyhawks moved into a tie for seventh place in the RMAC with two games remaining in the regular season. The top eight teams from the 14-team conference qualify for the league playoffs. With just one week remaining, FLC still mathematically has a chance to share the RMAC West Division title and move into the No. 2 seed in the RMAC playoffs, hosted by Nebraska-Kearney from Nov. 11-13.

League standings currently show Nebraska-Kearney holding down the No. 1 spot (15-1 in RMAC matches), trailed by Metro State (14-2), West Division-leading Mesa State (11-5), Colorado Mines (11-5), Regis (10-6), Western New Mexico (10-6), UC-Colorado Springs (9-7) and Fort Lewis (9-7). Colorado Christian (8-8), which Fort Lewis owns the tie-breaker over by virtue of a five-set win in Durango on Sept. 21, is the only other team challenging for a playoff berth.

The Skyhawks host Mesa State (17-8, 11-5) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4 in Whalen Gymnasium. The match marks the final home appearance for Aaland's three seniors — Flaming, Hillberry and Saiz.