DURANGO, Colo. – Down to the final game of the regular season, the Fort Lewis College volleyball team sits right in the mix in terms of clinching a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament spot. The Skyhawks will host Adams State University on Thursday starting at 7 p.m. inside Whalen Gym.
FLC enters at 9-12 overall and 9-8 in the RMAC, currently occupying the eighth and final tournament spot. The Skyhawks have a one-game lead over Adams State and with a win, will secure the final spot outright. FLC could also end up getting in if Adams State wins, depending on how many sets the game goes. If FLC wins at least a set, they would then hold the head-to-head conference tiebreaker having won the earlier match this season 3-0 in Alamosa.
It will be Senior Day for the six Skyhawk seniors in Kendra Swackenberg, Haley Christiansen, Megan Graefe, Hannah Martinez, Maddie LeBlanc and Jessie Roukema. Below is information on each seniors' careers.
Swackenberg from Brighton, Colo., spent her entire career with the Skyhawks. The setter has amassed 2,118 assists in 93 matches played and 326 total sets. In addition she has 213 kills, 53 service aces, 751 digs and 60 blocks. This season, Swackenberg had a season-high 51 assists against New Mexico Highlands, posted six kills against Regis, had 20 digs versus South Dakota Mines and sent back three blocks against New Mexico Highlands. She's been a regular on the RMAC All-Academic Team, being named to the team the past three seasons. Swackenberg was recently named the RMAC Setter of the Week.
Christiansen is from Gilbert, Ariz., and joined the Skyhawks this year after playing at Glendale Community College in Arizona. The outside hitter made an immediate impact this year compiling 221 kills, 306 digs, 19 blocks, 28 assists and 10 service aces in playing in all 21 matches and 76 sets. She's tallied 15 double-doubles this season in kills and digs going for a high in kills with 18 against New Mexico Highlands and 22 digs versus Westminster. Christiansen also had a high in assists with four against Regis and sent back two blocks versus Colorado Mesa.
Graefe is from Greeley, Colo., and arrived at Fort Lewis in 2017 after spending two seasons at Eastern Florida State College. The libero has played in 44 matches and 160 sets, coming away with 789 digs, 91 assists, 22 service aces and three kills. This season she collected a high in digs with 30 against New Mexico Highlands, had six assists against South Dakota Mines and added four service aces versus Chadron State. Named to the RMAC All-Academic Team this season, Graefe was named the Team MVP last year after earning RMAC Honorable Mention honors and also led the conference in digs per set at 5.25.
Martinez is from Phoenix, Ariz., and has spent her entire career at Fort Lewis. The outside hitter has played in 72 matches and 334 total sets. She has 327 kills, 72 blocks, 561 digs, 54 assists and 46 service aces. Martinez recorded a pair of 15 kill matches as a sophomore and had a career-high 26 digs that same season. This season she tallied 13 digs against South Dakota Mines and added four kills versus Truman State. Martinez was named to the RMAC All-Academic Team this season.
LeBlanc is from Chandler, Ariz., and has spent her entire career at Fort Lewis. The middle blocker has played in 92 matches and 334 sets. She's compiled 570 kills, 225 blocks, 172 digs, 22 assists and 52 service aces. She had a career-high 19 kills her junior year and sent back 10 blocks in a match her sophomore season. She was named to the All-RMAC Honorable Mention Team last year. This season LeBlanc had 10 kills against South Dakota Mines and six blocks versus Colorado Mesa.
Roukema is from Bayfield, Colo., and transferred to Fort Lewis after spending two seasons at Neosho County Community College. The outside hitter has played in 13 matches and 16 sets compiling six kills, nine digs and two blocks. Roukema tallied three kills last season against Colorado Christian.
FLC split this past weekend defeating CSU-Pueblo in four before falling to New Mexico Highlands. The Skyhawks have been nearly unbeatable at home this year taking a 7-1 mark inside Whalen Gym into the game this Thursday. Since a home loss on Sep. 8 against MSU Denver, FLC has won six straight at home.
Four players have at least 110 kills led by Christiansen's 221. Bailey Longacre adds 203, Tye Wedhorn with 139 and Ohiyah Shirley with 110. Swackenberg has 551 assists, Graefe has 320 digs, with Christiansen right behind with 306 and Swackenberg is third with 176. Wedhorn has sent back 53 blocks, Longacre adds 43 and LeBlanc with 40.
FLC ranks third in the RMAC and 76th nationally in digs per set (17.42), ninth in hitting percentage (.186), ninth in win-loss percentage (.429), sixth in the RMAC and 74th nationally in team attacks per set (37.66). Individually, Swackenberg is 11th in the RMAC in assists per set (7.45). Christiansen is second in the RMAC and 55th nationally in attacks per set (10.70) and 11th in the RMAC in total attacks (813). Wedhorn is 10th in the RMAC in blocks per set (0.88) and fourth in the RMAC and 36th nationally in hitting percentage (.362). Graefe is eighth in the RMAC in digs per set (4.51).
In the earlier meeting this season in Alamosa, FLC rolled to the 3-0 sweep over Adams State on Oct. 2. The Skyhawks hit .300 and held Adams State to a .089 percentage. Wedhorn had a big game with 12 kills and eight blocks. Christiansen added a double-double with 11 kills and 19 digs, while Swackenberg dished out 34 assists.
The Grizzlies are 11-14 overall and 8-9 in RMAC play. Adams State is 3-6 away from home in true road contests this season. The Grizzlies are riding a three-game winning streak having picked up wins over Western Colorado and on the road this past week against New Mexico Highlands and CSU-Pueblo.
Three players have at least 203 kills led by 275 from Hannah Goddard, 264 from Shannon Mulkey and 203 from Julianna Zamora. Rachael Ringler has 1,011 assists, while on defense, Mackenzie Swanson has 390 digs and Mulkey has sent back 69 blocks.
If FLC wins or advances via a tiebreaker to the RMAC Tournament, they would play again on Tuesday night at the top seed which is right now Colorado School of Mines. Dixie State, Colorado Mesa and MSU Denver are also in the hunt for the top spot.
