Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. — Colorado Mesa (11-16 overall, 6-11 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) defeated Fort Lewis (5-20, 2-15) in four sets tonight in Whalen Gymnasium, winning 25-17, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17 to keep its chances for the league playoffs alive.

“Tonight's match was a step in the wrong direction in what we are trying to accomplish,” said eighth-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland. “We came out flat and were never able to get into a rhythm. I am very disappointed in our play tonight.”

The Mavs blew a close first set that saw them leading 10-9 wide open with a six-point run to take a commanding 16-9 lead. The Skyhawk offense struggled in the opening frame, registering a .037 hitting efficiency with just 10 kills and nine errors.

Fort Lewis salvaged a 25-21 victory in the second set, but struggled after intermission.

Haleigh Higgins and Rebecca Sellers each finished with 15 kills for CMU, while Kelly Regimbal added seven kills, four aces and a pair of blocks.

The Skyhawk outside hitters Ashley Wells and Jessica Wilson had 14 and 10 kills each. Middle blocker Gladymar Echeverria was the lone FLC player to show constant spark throughout, notching five kills, two blocks and an .833 hitting efficiency.

Aside from blocking — the Skyhawks recorded 12 team blocks, led by Taylor Frederking's five and Ciara Krening's four — FLC did little else right. They recorded just one service ace to seven service errors, committed nine receiving errors on CMU serves, and hit just .098 as a team with 29 attack errors.

For the moment, CMU moves a half-game ahead of New Mexico Highlands (11-16, 5-11) in the RMAC standings. The Cowgirls have a game in hand over the Mavs, though, and own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

FLC wraps up the 2011 campaign at 7 p.m. Friday when Adams State (16-8, 10-6) visits Whalen Gymnasium. Adams State is in a three-way battle with Western New Mexico (14-11, 10-6) and Colorado State-Pueblo (13-11, 9-7) for home court advantage in the first round of the RMAC playoffs next week.

Friday's game marks the final appearance for FLC's two seniors, Wilson and defensive specialist Heather Bryant.