UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, September 23, 2016
Vs. University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 7 p.m.
Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/fortlewis/wvball
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
 
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Vs. MSU Denver | 5 p.m.
Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/fortlewis/wvball
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
 
NOTES
Fort Lewis started the RMAC season on the road last weekend at South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State, posting 3-1 wins in each match.  The back-to-back league wins marks the first time the Skyhawks have won two RMAC matches in a row since 2013.  It is also the first time the Skyhawks started the conference season 2-0 since 2008.
 
As a team, the Skyhawks have served the most aces than any other team in the league (2.21 aces per set).  Ally Dell'Amico leads a group of five Skyhawks ranked in the top 10 in the league in service aces with 0.43 aces per set.  Dell'Amico also ranks sixth in the RMAC in digs (4.95 average) while Delaney Scanlan has the ninth most set assists in the conference with 8.88 
 
THIS WEEK'S MATCHES
After playing their first 10 matches in three weekends away from home, the Fort Lewis College volleyball team will open their home season this weekend against UCCS on Friday at 7 p.m., and MSU Denver on Saturday at 5 p.m. 
 
This season, the Skyhawks will play all of their home Friday matches at 7 p.m., and all of their home Saturday matches at 5 p.m.
 
THE SERIES
The Skyhawks and Mountain Lions are tied at 24-24 in their all-time series.  UCCS is currently on an 11-match winning streak against FLC.  The last time FLC defeated UCCS was Oct. 13, 2007 in Durango (W, 3-1).
 
MSU Denver leads the all-time series against FLC, 32-10-2.  The Roadrunners are on a two match winning streak.  The Skyhawks last defeated MSU Denver on Oct. 25, 2013, 3-2, in Whalen Gymnasium.
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
UCCS enters the weekend with a 6-4 overall record and a 1-1 league mark.  They have lost two of their last three matches.  UCCS leads the RMAC in kills (14.35 kills per set), and they are third overall in hitting percentage (.236) and assists (12.89 assists per set).
 
UCCS is led by Alyssa Brinton with a league best 4.22 kills per set.
 
SCOUTING THE ROADUNNERS
The Roadrunners, who received votes in this week's national poll, are one of five teams in the conference to start the RMAC season 2-0.  The Roadrunners, 7-3 overall, are second in the league in hitting percentage (.236), assists (13.02 per set) and kills (13.79 per set).
 
Brandi Torr leads all setters in the league with 11.47 assists per set.
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Mattise 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 stay at home next weekend to play host to Colorado Mesa University on Friday, and Western State Colorado University on Saturday.