DURANGO, Colo. – Off to a 5-1 start at home, the Fort Lewis College volleyball team will look to add to that success this week when they host Western Colorado University on Friday at 7 p.m. and then against Colorado Mesa University on Saturday at 5 p.m. inside Whalen Gym.
The five home wins is the most since the team won six back in 2013, which coincidentally was the last time the Skyhawks made the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament. That year they won 10 conference games and earned the eighth seed.
This year's team hopes to reach those same marks as they enter 6-11 overall and 6-7 in RMAC play, currently in sole position of eighth in the RMAC standings, a half-game ahead of Chadron State and a full-game ahead of both Adams State and Westminster. FLC sits just two games back of UCCS and Colorado Christian, currently tied for sixth. The top-eight teams make the conference postseason tournament, with the top four seeds hosting the first round.
The Skyhawks rolled to a pair of 3-1 victories against Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines at home this past weekend. Against Black Hills State, Haley Christiansen led the offense with 14 kills, with Bailey Longacre adding 13. Kendra Swackenberg had 38 assists and Megan Graefe recorded 22 digs. In the win against South Dakota Mines, Longacre posted 17 kills and also sent back three blocks. Swackenberg had 45 assists and Graefe added 22 digs.
This season, FLC has 715 kills to 885 for opponents, along with 1,030 digs to 1,080 for the opposition and 89 blocks to 116.5 for opponents. Christiansen leads the offense with 181 kills, with Longacre second with 151. Tye Wedhorn is closing in on 100 kills sitting at 95. Swakenberg has 390 assists, Graefe leads in digs with 241, with Christiansen right behind with 239 and in blocks Longacre has 32 blocks and Maddie LeBlanc adds 30.
FLC ranks high in the RMAC and in a few national categories including second in the RMAC and 99th nationally in digs per set (16.89), ninth in the RMAC in hitting percentage (.180), ninth in the RMAC in win-loss percentage (.353), fifth in the RMAC and 89th nationally in team attacks per set (37.26). Individually, Christiansen is third in the RMAC and 68th nationally in attacks per set (10.39), 11th in kills per set (2.97) and 11th in total attacks (634). Swackenberg is 12th in the RMAC in assists per set (6.61), Graefe is 11th in the RMAC in digs per set (4.30) and Wedhorn is fourth in the RMAC and 34th nationally in hitting percentage (.365).
Last year, FLC defeated Western 3-0 in Gunnison. Emily Dellenbach led the way in kills with 11, followed by 10 from Longacre. Swackenberg had 28 assists and Graefe with 25 digs. FLC also won the last meeting in Durango in 2016, 3-2.
Western Colorado University is 2-19 overall and 1-12 in the RMAC on the season. The Mountaineers have 637 kills to 881 for opponents, along with 1,024 digs to 1,109 for opponents and 95 blocks to 136 for the opposition. Kirsten Companik leads the team in kills with 138, followed by 122 from Kathleen Kasel and 120 from Emilee Scates. Hanna Hendrickson has dished out 535 assists, Cammi Baumann has 284 digs and Kasel has sent back 41 blocks.
The Skyhawks will then face Colorado Mesa to close the week on Saturday. Last year, FLC recorded a 3-2 victory in Grand Junction, coming back to win the final three sets. Dellenbach led the team with 14 kills, Swackenberg added 40 assists and Graefe had 34 digs. The last meeting in Durango back in 2016 the Mavericks claimed a 3-0 victory.
Colorado Mesa is currently tied for second in the RMAC standings with a 11-2 conference mark and 16-5 overall record. This past weekend they lost at home to Dixie State in four, but then defeated Westminster in straight sets.
As a team they have 993 kills, 1,181 digs and 180 blocks. Opponents have 761 kills, 1,014 digs and 159 blocks. Kasie Gilfert leads the team with 267 kills, followed by 178 from MacKenzie Edwards. Ara Norwood has 450 assists, while on defense Taylor Woods has 363 digs and Gilfert has 77 blocks, with Camille Smith adding 75.
A look around the RMAC has Colorado School of Mines in first with a 12-1 mark, followed by Dixie State and Colorado Mesa both tied for second at 11-2. MSU Denver is fourth at 10-2, Regis is fifth at 10-3, UCCS and Colorado Christian are tied for sixth at 8-5 and Fort Lewis is eighth at 6-7.
Live video and stats will be available for both games.
