Box score

GUNNISON, Colo. — Fort Lewis (7-6 overall, 3-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) defeated Western State Colorado (1-12, 0-5) in four sets tonight in Paul Wright Gym. 25-20, 13-25, 25-20, 25-22 in a win that left Skyhawk head coach Shelly Aaland feeling relieved.
 
“I am proud of the team effort that was displayed tonight. We had to work harder than we should have due to service errors (17 total),” said Aaland. “Western outdug us, outserved us, and outblocked us. What I am so proud of is the tenacity we showed.
 
“We put different people in,” added the ninth-year Skyhawk coach. “I give a ton of credit to Taylor Frederking and Alexa Moser for coming in off the bench and making an immediate impact. Ashley Wells had a very gritty night, especially in the back row.”
 
Fort Lewis experimented with a two-setter offense in the first set, rotating usual starter Ciara Krening and backup Tehya Smith with right side hitters Stephani Sonka and Moser. While the Skyhawks emerged with a 25-20 win, the offense sputtered as FLC hit for just .091 in the opening salvo (12 kills, nine errors).
 
Aaland opted for a more standard lineup from there on out. Aside from an ugly second set that saw the Mountaineers roll to a 25-13 win (Western State hit .346 with 11 kills and just two errors in the second, while the Skyhawks struggled to a .000 with nine kills and nine miscues), the regular rotation — albeit one with a few substitutes helping off the bench — worked. FLC improved its offensive production to .321 in the third (13 kills) and .316 in the fourth (14 kills).
 
Moser led the way with 13 kills and an impressive .440 attack percentage. Sonka added 12 kills, .333 hitting efficiency, and a game-ending service ace. Wells had an unusually low eight kills and hit for a -.088, but more than made up for that defensively with 12 digs and a pair of blocks. Frederking came off the bench to add four kills and two blocks. Jenna Kinzer notched 16 kills and three aces. Krening had 37 assists.
 
Western State's Makeena Christ notched a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs.
 
Aaland said her team responded well in hostile territory. Western State's small but vocal crowd of 289 “made that gym really loud, especially when they were doing well,” she said.
 
Which is a good learning lesson for the Skyhawks, who are now 2-1 on the road this year. Fort Lewis visits No. 19 Adams State (11-2, 4-1) at 7 p.m. tomorrow. Fort Lewis is just a game behind Adams State in the RMAC West Division standings, but the Grizzlies will surely be out for blood after dropping a five-set match at home to Colorado Mesa tonight (20-25, 25-17, 27-25, 20-25, 9-15).