Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. — Two days after recording their biggest win of the year, the Fort Lewis volleyball team (5-12 overall, 2-7 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) suffered their worst lost of the season in a four-game setback to Western State (4-13, 1-8). The visiting Mountaineers picked up their first conference win of the season, taking the game 25-23, 21-25, 29-27, 25-23.

“It was a disappointing effort after such a season-changing one on Friday,” said eighth-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland. “As it turns out they were a little bit hungrier for that win than we were.”

The first and third sets proved to be FLC's undoing.

Leading 23-21 in the opening frame, Josie Hopkins sent a ball down the left line that was initially ruled in play, then overturned by the line judge on the opposite side of the court. What would have been a 24-21 FLC lead became a 23-22 score. The Mountaineers took over with a service ace from Sami Fuentes, another Hopkins kill, and an attack error from FLC's Jessica Wilson on set point.

Then, after FLC took the second set 25-21, the Skyhawks were poised to take the third, but failed to convert on four straight set points at 24-23, 25-24, 26-25, and 27-26.

In the fourth set, the Skyhawks rallied from 22-20 down to tie the set at 23-23, only to lose the final two points on a Hopkins kill and an Ashley Wells attack error.

Some solid individual play was overshadowed by the defeat.

“Both Ashley and Stephani still had a very good offensive showing,” said Aaland.

Wells notched 20 kills, 12 digs and a .390 hitting percentage. Sonka had 17 kills, three blocks, and a .308. Setter Ciara Krening added 54 assists and 11 digs, while libero Jenna Kinzer (26 digs) and defensive specialist Hannah Starbuck (10 digs) were strong defensively.

Hopkins led the Mountaineers with 14 kills and 12 digs. Molly Dolson proved to be a threat setting (34 assists), attacking (seven kills), serving (three aces), digging (16 digs), and blocking (one solo block, two block assists).

Strangely, the Skyhawks won most of the statistical battles, notching more kills (59-45) and digs (78-74) than the Mountaineers, but committing far more miscues (10 service errors, 35 hitting errors).

Fort Lewis hits the road for its longest trip of the season, playing three games in three days next weekend at Colorado Christian (10-10, 5-4) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Colorado Mines (13-5, 7-2) at 6 p.m. Friday, and No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney (18-1, 8-1) at 6 p.m. (MST) Saturday.