Box score

SILVER CITY, N.M. — Western New Mexico (14-13 overall, 11-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) ended Fort Lewis' slim chances of making the league playoffs with a four-set win Saturday night at Drag's Court. The Mustangs won 25-16, 25-21, 22-25, 25-15.
 
Had Fort Lewis won, it could still mathematically tie the Mustangs should it win out and WNMU lose its last two matches. Instead, FLC finds itself playing for pride next weekend in its last two RMAC matches.
 
Ninth-year Skyhawk head coach Shelly Aaland thought her team performed well sporadically, but couldn't sustain its efforts against a WNMU team that plays a slower, more deliberate offense.
 
Fort Lewis rallied in the third set by switching its lineup with freshman Alexa Moser replacing outside hitter Ashley Wells, winning 25-22. But a WNMU adjustment in the fourth set squelched any chance of the Skyhawks forcing a decisive fifth set.
 
Sophomore right side hitter Stephani Sonka led FLC with 11 kills and three blocks. Juniors Hannah Starbuck and Kristin Stephan added nine kills each, while libero Jenna Kinzer had 14 digs.
 
The Mustangs were led by outside hitter Angelina Pulu's 27-kil, 16-dig effort. Ziona Verhulsdonk added 10 kills and a pair of blocks.
 
The Mustangs outhit Fort Lewis .259 to .099 and notched 60 kills to FLC's 39. They also outdug the Skyhawks 57-43 and outblocked FLC 12-8.
 
With 10 wins on the season and no seniors on their roster, the Skyhawks have doubled their victory output from a year ago. Fort Lewis hopes to end the season on a high note next weekend, when they travel to New Mexico Highlands (6-21, 2-15) and Colorado State-Pueblo (14-14, 5-12) for 7 p.m. matches on Friday and Saturday in hopes of holding onto fourth place in the RMAC West Division.