Skyhawks Volleyball Game Day Notes

Friday, Sept. 30 Vs. No. 18 Colorado School of Mines | 7 p.m.
Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Live Stats
Video

Saturday, Sept. 26 Vs. Colorado Christian University | 5 p.m.
Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Live Stats
Video

The Fort Lewis College volleyball team will play host to Colorado School of Mines on Friday at 7 p.m., and Colorado Christian University on Saturday at 5 p.m. during Homecoming Weekend.
 
The Orediggers are ranked No. 18 in the latest AVCA poll and enter the weekend with a 9-3 overall record and 3-1 RMAC record.
 
The Cougars are tied with the Orediggers in the Mountain Division with a 3-1 RMAC record, the second best in the Division.  CCU is 8-6 overall.
 
Colorado Mines has won the last nine matches against FLC, but the Skyhawks hold a 34-25 series lead over the Orediggers, and a 12-7 series lead when playing at Whalen Gymnasium.  The last time FLC defeated Colorado Mines was Sept. 29, 2007 at CSM.
 
The Orediggers lead the league in hitting percentage (.234), assists (502), and kills (540).  Danielle Johnson-Hazelwood is averaging an RMAC best 12.27.
 
Fort Lewis will be looking to snap a five game losing streak against the Cougars.  FLC is 20-11 all-time against CCU, and 6-7 against CCU at Whalen Gym.
 
Colorado Christian holds their opponents to a .167 hitting percentage which is the third best in the league.  The Cougars are fifth in the RMAC in hitting percentage (.177), and fourth in assists (452) and kills (505).  Jordan Carswell leads the leauge in service aces with 15, and Joelle LeFevre has a league high 5.32 digs per set.
 
Fort Lewis College opened their home season this past weekend, playing host to UCCS (L, 3-1) and MSU Denver (L, 3-0).
 
The setback to the Mountain Lions on Friday tied the all-time series between the two teams at 24-24. UCCS has won the last 11 matches.  The last time the Skyhawks defeated UCCS was Oct. 13, 2007 at home (W, 3-1).
 
MSU Denver now owns a 33-10-2 lead over Fort Lewis.  The Skyhawks have won four of 14 matches against the Roadrunners when playing at home.  The last time FLC defeated the Roadrunners was at home on Oct. 25, 2013.
 
Fort Lewis ranks fourth in the league in digs (16.00 average), sixth in service aces (1.37 average), and 12th in opponent hitting percentage (.217).
 
Libero Ally Dell'Amico is averaging 4.59 digs per set this season (176 total), the fifth highest average in the RMAC.
 
Gabriella Hickman's 11 aces this season (0.34 aces per set) are the seventh most in the conference.
 
The Skyhawks are 3-4 when playing in four set matches and 0-3 in three-set matches.  They have yet to play a five set match.
 
The Skyhawks are averaging 9.9 kills per set with a .127 attack percentage. 
 
Matisse Monty and Gabriella Hickman were named to the 2015 OPSU Aggies Challenge All-Tournament Team.
 
Eight student-athletes return from last year's program: Rachel Hendrick, Ally Dell'Amico, Shelby Lehman, Lindley Gallegos, Hannah Hargrove and Emily Dellenbach.  Bella Bernazzani and Clara Salopek redshirted as true freshman.
 
The Skyhawks return three starters from last year's team: Shelby Lehman and Emily Dellenbach, including libero Ally Dell'Amico.
 
The 2015 roster features nine newcomers: freshmen Alyssa Cortez, Gabriella Hickman, Maddie LeBlanc, Hannah Martinez, Matisse Monty, Johannah Peterson and Kendra Swackenberg, and junior Nicole Williams.  Delaney Scanlan transfers into the program from South Mountain Community College.
 
Head coach Kelley Rifilato is in her third year at the helm of the program.  She has guided the Skyhawks to an 18-36 overall record in her first two years.
 
Assisting head coach Kelley Rifilato is first year assistant coach Gabriella Hochanadel.  Hochanadel is the daughter of Rifilato.  She  played for her mother at Bayfield High School before becoming an all-conference setter at Adams State University.  Tessa Andrews also enters her third year on the sidelines with Rifilato.  Andrews was an All-RMAC performer at Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University) from 2007-2010.