GOODWELL, Okla. — In what head coach Shelly Aaland called “a great team effort,” Fort Lewis (2-0 overall) defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State 25-19, 25-15, 25-19 today at Oscar Williams Fieldhouse to start the 2012 season and the OPSU Aggies Challenge 2-0.
 
“It was a match that we started out a little frantic, but were able to really bring it together and end it in a positive fashion,” said the ninth-year Skyhawk skipper.
 
“We had great defense in the back row,” she added. “Our blocking came around a little bit better. I thought Ciara Krening did a really good job of distributing the ball. And our serving is becoming a strength.”
 
The one-hour, seven-minute game followed FLC's 58-minute, three-set lambasting of Bacone (Okla.), 25-10, 25-14, 25-9, this morning.
 
Complete team and individual statistics for the game were unavailable.

Aaland said her time will have to rise to the occasion tomorrow for their pair of games at the OPSU Challenge against stronger opposition. She said that FLC's 8 a.m. (MDT) game against Fort Hays State (Kan.) is against the team that looks to be the best at the tournament. And FLC's noon matchup against fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe Colorado Christian gives the Skyhawks a chance to gauge themselves against one of the conference's toughest teams.

Colorado Christian owns a 16-11 lead in the all-time series with FLC, including a win in last year's meeting that broke FLC's eight-game winning streak over CCU.

Fort Hays State is 14-10 all-time against FLC. The Skyhawks won the last meeting in 2005 when the Tigers were still members of the RMAC.

Saturday's games will be played at two locations: Williams Fieldhouse (Fort Hays State) and the Noble Center (Colorado Christian). The Fort Hays State tilt will be streamed live at http://www.livestream.com/opsuvolleyball. There is no live streaming for game against the Cougars.
 
Live stats are unavailable this weekend.