Fort Lewis 3, Franklin Pierce 0
UC-Colorado Springs 3, Fort Lewis 1

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Fort Lewis split its volleyball matches today at the Mountain Lion Invitational to finish the tournament with a 2-2 record. The Skyhawks swept Franklin Pierce 25-18, 25-16, 25-22 this morning before losing to host UC-Colorado Springs 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 6-25 this afternoon.
 
The Skyhawks finished the two-day tournament with a 2-2 overall record. At the end of preseason, Fort Lewis has nearly equaled its victory output of a year ago — a forgettable season that saw them go 5-21.
 
“Ashley Wells had a breakout match,” ninth-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland said of the opener. Her sophomore outside hitter recorded 17 kills, a .483 attack percentage, seven digs, and a pair of blocks as the Skyhawks easily dispensed of the Ravens (3-5 overall). “She was 14 of 16 with no errors after two sets.
 
“Ashley Ellis also put on a strong showing with a .375 hitting percentage, four kills, and four blocks,” she added.
 
“We need to continue to work on playing at our level,” the Skyhawk skipper said. “We continue to improve the details with each match that will allow us to begin conference play confidently.”
 
As a team, Fort Lewis won every statistical category, including kills (37-21), hitting efficiency (.200 to -.024), aces (8-5), assists (32-18), digs (34-33), and blocks (8-2).
 
Setter Ciara Krening distributed 30 assists against Franklin Pierce, while outside hitter Alexa Moser had 3 aces.
 
The Skyhawks looked strong against the host Mountain Lions, putting themselves in a position for a possible three-set sweep. In fact, they were the only team to take a set off UCCS (4-3 overall entering tonight's match against Midwestern State) at the tournament, which included a 3-0 UCCS victory over the nation's No. 12 team, Wayne State (Neb.)

“After the third set, we were beating them in every stat category,” said Aaland. “In set four, we just totally lost it. It's disappointing. We had all the tools we needed to get that one done and we just didn't.”
 
Wells again led FLC with 18 kills and nine digs, although her efficiency (.041) was plagued by 16 errors. Middle blocker Kristin Stephan added eight digs and five blocks, while right side hitter Stephani Sonka had eight kills and three blocks. Libero Jenna Kinzer had 20 kills.
 
The Mountain Lions were led by Amy Einsphar's 12 kills and six blocks. Nikki Kinzer — the older sister of FLC's Jenna —had eight kills and eight blcoks. As a team, UCCS outblocked FLC 13-10 to win the battle at the net.
 
The Skyhawks managed to out-dig their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes 9-4, while kills were level at 41-41. UCCS outhit FLC .157 to .063, as Fort Lewis committed 32 attack errors. In the forgettable fourth set, FLC had just three kills against 11 hitting miscues.
 
Fort Lewis opens their RMAC and home schedules against Colorado State-Pueblo (6-1 overall) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14 in Whalen Gymnasium. The following night, the Skyhawks host New Mexico Highlands (3-5) at 7 p.m.
 
“When we get back home, we need to be working work on our mental toughness and managing a match. Our lack of maturity is showing right now, so thankfully its something we can work on as we get into conference play.”