UPCOMING GAMES
Midwestern State University Invitational
September 9-10, 2016
MSU D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
 
Friday, September 9
At Midwestern State University | 11:30 a.m. MT
Vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State University | 4:30 p.m. MT
 
Saturday, September 10
Vs. Southern Nazarene University | 9 a.m. MT
Vs. Emporia State University | 2 p.m. MT
 
GAME COVERAGE
Friday, September 9
Live Stats At Midwestern State University: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=140172
Live Stats Vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State University: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=141540
 
Saturday, September 10
Live Stats Vs. Southern Nazarene University: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=141542
Live Stats Vs. Emporia State University: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=141543
 
THIS WEEK'S MATCHES
The Fort Lewis College volleyball team will travel to Wichita Falls, Texas to compete in the Midwestern State University Invitational.  Eight teams will be competing in the invitational with two courts running simultaneously in the MSU D.L. Ligon Coliseum.  The Skyhawks will start the weekend with a match against host school Midwestern State University (1-3) at 11:30 a.m., followed by Southeastern Oklahoma State University (3-1) at 4:30 p.m.  On Sunday, FLC will face Southern Nazarene University (0-0) at 9 a.m. and Emporia State University (1-3) at 2 p.m.
 
THE SERIES
Friday's match against Midwestern State University will be the second time the two teams have faced each other, with each team walking away with one win a piece.  The Skyhawks are 0-1 at MSU.  FLC is 2-0 against Southeastern State Oklahoma, including 1-0 on neutral site courts.
 
The first and last time the Skyhawks played Southern Nazarene was Sept. 8, 1995, with FLC winning the match, 3-0.  Against Emporia State University, FLC leads the series, 2-1.  The last time the two teams met was Sept. 16, 1994 (FLC won, 3-2).
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Maddie LeBlanc and Bailey Longacre were named to the Cal State San Marcos Invitational All-Tournament team.  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.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Skyhawks opened their season playing four matches at the California State University San Marcos Invitational. FLC won their opening match on Friday against Johnson & Wales University, 3-0, but dropped the next three matches to Westmont (L, 0-3), Sonoma State University (L, 1-3) and CSU San Marcos (L, 1-3).
 
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
FLC will open the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season on the road Sept. 16-17 at South Dakota School of Mines and Black Hills State University.