UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, October 28, 2016
Vs. New Mexico Highlands University | 7 p.m.
Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/fortlewis/wvball
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
 
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Vs. Colorado State University - Pueblo | 5 p.m.
Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/fortlewis/wvball
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
 


NOTES
Fort Lewis College will return home to Whalen Gymnasium this weekend after playing their last six matches on the road.  The Skyhawks, who have only had four home matches this season, will play five of their next six matches at home.
 
FLC will begin their five match home stand this Friday against New Mexico Highlands at 7 p.m., and Colorado State University-Pueblo at 5 p.m. on Saturday.  It will be the first time either team has faced each other this season.  The Skyhawks will play at New Mexico Highlands to wrap up the regular season, but Saturday's match will be the only time the Skyhawks will play the Pack in the regular season.
 
The Skyhawks will wear pink jerseys on Friday night against the Cowgirls in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The Skyhawks will also sell pink t-shirts for $15 and white/pink hoodies for $25.
 
FLC is 12^th in the RMAC standings with a 3-9 league record.  The Skyhawks are 4-16 overall.
 
The Skyhawks are 1-3 this season in Whalen Gymnasium and are looking to snap a six game losing streak.
 
The Skyhawks continue to lead the RMAC in service aces.  FLC is averaging 1.47 aces per set.  Ally Dell'Amico is ninth in the league in service aces with 0.29 aces per set, and fifth in digs with 4.90 digs per set.  Senior setter Delaney Scanlan is averaging the ninth most assists in the RMAC with 8.54.
 
Six Fort Lewis College women's volleyball student-athletes were named to the 2016 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Volleyball All-Academic team.  Ally Dell'Amico earned First Team honors for the second straight year, while Bella Bernazzani, Hannah Hargrove, Matisse Monty, Delaney Scanlan and Kendra Swackenberg were named to the Honor Roll.
 
THE SERIES
The Skyhawks lead the all-time series against New Mexico Highlands University, 46-34.  The Cowgirls are on a one-game winning streak but FLC has won five of the last seven meetings.  The Skyhawks last win over NMHU was a 3-1 victory on the road last season on Oct. 9, 2015.  FLC holds a slight edge over the Cowgirls on their home court, 19-16.
 
Against the ThunderWolves, the Skyhawks hold a 42-35 series advantage, but the Skyhawks have dropped five of the last six meetings to the Pack.  FLC is 19-13 all-time when facing the Pack in Whalen Gymnasium.
 
SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS
New Mexico Highlands University enters the weekend in 13^th place in the RMAC with a 2-10 RMAC record and a 5-12 overall record.  NMHU is on an eight match losing streak.  They earned league wins over Black Hills State University and South Dakota Mines to open the conference season.
 
NMHU has the seventh best hitting percentage (.179) in the RMAC and eighth most aces (1.20).  They rank 11^th in the league in kills (11.41 per set) and last in blocks (1.28 per set).
 
SCOUTING THE THUNDERWOLVES
Colorado State-Pueblo is on the bubble for qualifying for the RMAC Tournament.  The ThunderWolves are currently tied for eighth in the league with a 6-6 record (8-13 overall).  The Pack are 1-3 in their last four matches and 3-4 on the road this season.
 
The ThunderWolves have the third most blocks in the RMAC this season after averaging 2.12 blocks per set.  They are hitting at a .168 clip and are averaging 11.44 kills per set.
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Matisse Monty was the third Skyhawk to earn preseason All-Tournament team honors.  Monty was named to the MSU All-Tournament team (Sept. 9-10) after recording 2.53 kills per set with a .148 hitting mark, eight aces, 35 digs and four blocks.
 
Maddie LeBlanc and Bailey Longacre were named to the Cal State San Marcos Invitational All-Tournament team (Sept. 2-3).  The duo led the Skyhawks offensively over the weekend.  LeBlanc averaged 2.64 kills per set while hitting .304 at the net.  She added five aces, five digs and 10 blocks.  Longacre finished with 30 kills (2.14 kills per set), a .234 hitting mark, 11 digs and seven blocks.
 
PRESEAON POLL
The 2016 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll has the Fort Lewis College volleyball program picked to finish 13^th out of 15 teams. The Skyhawks received 45 points in the preseason poll.  Colorado School of Mines is the preseason favorite with 192 points and 11 first place votes.
 
FLC finished 16^th in the league last year with a 2-16 RMAC record (5-21 overall).  The Skyhawks return five starters (Matisse Monty, Gabriella Hickman, Maddie LeBlanc, Hannah Hargrove and Delaney Scanlan), including libero Ally Dell'Amico, and 11 letterwinner's from last year's team.  Dell'Amico and Monty earned RMAC Honorable Mention honors last year.
 
SEASONED COACH
Kelley Rifilato is in her fourth season with the Skyhawks in 2016 after being named the Fort Lewis College head volleyball coach in June 2013.  In three years at the helm of the volleyball program, Rifilato owns a 23-57 (.288) overall record, and a 17-38 (.309) conference mark.  She has coach five All-RMAC and 13 Academic All-RMAC performers while taking the 2013 team to the RMAC tournament.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Skyhawks will play host to Colorado Christian University on Nov. 4 and Colorado School of Mines on Nov. 5.