Box score

DURANGO, Colo. — Fort Lewis (5-4 overall, 1-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) opened up league play with a three-set sweep of Colorado State-Pueblo (8-2, 0-1) tonight in Whalen Gymnasium, winning 25-22, 25-17, 25-18.
 
“I'm very proud of the overall effort tonight,” said ninth-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland. “Our intensity accelerated through each set. It's a nice way to start the season.”
 
Skyhawk setter Ciara Krenning distributed 35 assists while distributing the ball evenly to many of her teammates. Hannah Starbuck led the way with 11 kills and a .267 hitting efficiency, while Stephani Sonka, Kirstin Stephan, and Ashley Wells notched eight kills apiece. Sonka hit a solid .389 with just one attack error.
 
“I felt Stephani had a solid match offensively and defensively,” Aaland said of her sophomore right side hitter.
 
“The connection with Ciara and Kristen was on fire tonight,” she added. “Stephan notched seven blocks (two solo, five assisted), while Krening added five block assists.
 
“Hannah leading this team with kills shows how her passion for the game can lift her to great heights,” Aaland summarized.
 
As a team, Fort Lewis hit a pedestrian .157 with 39 kills and 20 errors. The hitting efficiency would have been higher, but CSU-Pueblo notched seven blocks.
 
The ThunderWolves were led by Morgan Wilkening (11 kills). Skylar Conner had four blocks (one solo).
 
As a team, CSUP hit just .025 with 33 kills and 30 attack errors.
 
The Skyhawk block certainly disrupted the ThunderWolves. Fort Lewis notched 13 total blocks, including four by freshman middle blocker Ashley Ellis.
 
Jenna Kinzer led all players with 19 digs, as the Skyhawks owned a slight 50-48 advantage in digs. Alexa Sansavera has 12 digs for the ThunderWolves.
 
Fort Lewis continues RMAC play tomorrow night when they host New Mexico Highlands (3-6, 0-1) at 7 p.m. in Whalen Gymnasium. The Cowgirls were swept at Colorado Mesa tonight, 25-15, 25-14, 25-12.