Box score

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Colorado Mesa jumped two full games ahead of Fort Lewis in the race for the final Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference volleyball playoff spot tonight in a three-set sweep of the Skyhawks (28-26, 25-14, 25-18) tonight at Brownson Arena.
 
The Mavericks (14-10 overall, 8-8 RMAC) are now two games ahead of the Skyhawks (10-14, 6-10) in the race for the No. 8 seed in the league playoffs, which start in less than two weeks.
 
Fort Lewis fell behind 24-19 in the opening frame before forcing overtime in an eventual 28-26 loss. From that point, head coach Shelly Aaland thought her team fell flat.
 
The exceptions were middle blocker Kristin Stephan (seven kills) and outside hitter Ashley Wells (10 kills, 8 digs). Wells is a Grand Junction product, having prepped at Central High School.
 
“Both Kristin and Ashley had good nights,” said Aaland. “Ashley, playing in front of her family and friends, was all over the court. Offensively, it was one of her better performances. She was hitting in a pretty good positive after the first set.”
 
Jenna Kinzer and Hannah Starbuck each had eight digs for the Skyhawks, while Stephani Sonka added six blocks.
 
Colorado Mesa was led Kelly Regimbal (nine kills, five blocks) and Abby Ney (nine kills, .643 hitting efficiency).
 
If the Skyhawks are to qualify for the RMAC playoffs, they'll need to win their final three matches — all on the road — and hope the Mavs lose their last three. With a two game lead and a 2-0 sweep in head-to-head competition, Colorado Mesa owns the tie-breaker over FLC.
 
It all begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at Western New Mexico (13-12, 10-5). Fort Lewis did defeat WNMU 3-1 (25-22, 25-20, 16-25, 25-21) earlier this season in FLC's Whalen Gymnasium.
 
“We're looking at the next three,” said Aaland, whose team has already doubled its victory total from a year ago and tripled its number of RMAC wins.