UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, September 30, 2016
Vs. Colorado Mesa University | 7 p.m.
Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/fortlewis/wvball
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
 
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Vs. Western State Colorado University | 5 p.m.
Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/fortlewis/wvball
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
 
NOTES
The Skyhawks opened their home season this past weekend against UCCS and MSU Denver. 
 
The Mountain Lions edged the Skyhawks, 3-1, on Friday.  After falling in the first two sets (-23, -15), the Skyhawks came out strong after the intermission and posted a 25-17 third set win. The fourth set went into extra points as UCCS came out with the win, 29-27.
 
Metropolitan State University, Denver handed FLC a 3-0 loss Saturday night at Whalen Gymnasium.  FLC trailed the Roadrunners 20-12 in the opening set but out-scored MSUD 17-7 before dropping the set, 27-25.  The Skyhawks lost the following two sets, 25-18 and 25-19.
 
As a team, the Skyhawks have served the most aces than any other team in the league (1.93 aces per set).  Ally Dell'Amico leads a group of five Skyhawks ranked in the top 10 in the league in service aces with 0.39 aces per set.  Dell'Amico also ranks third in the RMAC in digs (5.07 average) while Delaney Scanlan has the ninth most set assists in the conference with 9.06. 
 
THIS WEEK'S MATCHES
The Skyhawks will remain home this weekend during their four game homestand.  FLC will face Colorado Mesa University on Friday, followed by the Mountaineers of Western State Colorado University on Saturday.
 
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
Colorado Mesa University leads the all-time series against Fort Lewis College, 56-33-1.  The Skyhawks are 14-24 when facing CMU in Whalen Gymnasium.  The last time FLC defeated the Mavericks at home was Nov. 5, 2013 (W, 3-2).
 
The Skyhawks own a 55-42 all-time series lead against Western State Colorado University.  The Skyhawks also own the lead against the Mountaineers at home, 26-16.  WSCU snapped a six game winning streak by the Skyhawks last season on Oct. 30, 2015, with a 3-1 win at WSCU.  FLC has won the last three matches against WSCU in Whalen Gymnasium.
 
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Four matches into the conference season, the Mavericks are sitting in a tie for third place in the league with a 3-1 record.  CMU owns a 9-3 overall record and a 3-1 record on the road.  The Mavericks have won nine of their last 10 matches.  They are holding their opponents to a league-low .149 hitting mark.
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Along with Colorado Mesa, the Mountaineers are one of four teams tied for third place in the league standings with a 3-1 record.  WSCU is also second in the conference behind CMU in opponent hitting percentage (.188), while posting the fifth best hitting percentage as a team (.154).
 
Tori Gaherty is fifth in the RMAC in service aces (.36 aces per set), and eighth in kills (3.39 average).
 
Western State is 2-1 on the road this season and 7-5 overall.  They are currently on a three game winning streak.
 
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
After playing their first four home matches of the season, the Skyhawks start a six-match road trip beginning Oct. 7 at Colorado School of Mines, and Oct. 8 at Colorado Christian University.