ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Fort Lewis College volleyball team battled Division I the University of New Mexico Saturday in an exhibition contest. The Skyhawks came close in the opening set, behind 10 kills, before the Lobos claimed the first frame, 25-17. Following a 25-11 second set win for UNM, FLC showed fight in the final set putting together 15 points before a 25-15 third set a 3-0 match win for the Lobos.

Newcomer Haley Christiansen paced FLC with six kills, followed by returner Ohiyah Shirley's five kills. Returning setter Kendra Swackenberg dished out 10 assists, while returning defensive specialist Megan Graefe collected eight digs. Shirley added six digs as well.

Cailyn Cook opened the scoring with a kill from Swackenberg in the first set. Kills from Tye Wedhorn and Shirley followed with points later in the set for a 4-3 Skyhawk advantage. The lead stretched to three at 7-4 on a kill by Shirley. A Hannah Martinez kill and a service error by the Lobos kept FLC ahead 10-8. After UNM came back to even things at 10, the teams would trade points until 15-all when UNM reeled off the next eight points on their way to claiming the set, 25-17.

An attack error and kill by Maddie LeBlanc helped FLC to an early 2-1 lead in the second set. Shirley still had the Skyhawks in front at 3-2 with a kill before UNM went on a 5-0 run to jump out to a 7-3 lead. Christiansen helped pull FLC back to within three at 7-4, but it was just too much from the Lobos as they used an 8-3 run to move out to a 15-7 advantage. UNM kept the pressure going scoring the final five points of the set for a 25-11 second set win and 2-0 match lead.

UNM jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third before three errors helped even the set at three. UNM then used a 6-0 spurt to move out to a 9-3 lead. Trailing 21-11, FLC wouldn't go away quietly as Bella Valdez spun in a service ace and Bailey Longacre had a kill before UNM grabbed the 25-15 set win and 3-0 match victory.

Lauren Twitty led UNM with 12 kills, while hitting a .611 hitting percentage. Tai Bierria added seven kills. Sabrina Bianco dished out 19 assists, Mercedes Pacheco had eight digs and Victoria Spragg sent back 5 blocks, with one solo.

FLC will now prepare for the alumni game that will take place next Saturday at 5 p.m. The regular season will open on August 31 when they will travel to Salt Lake City to compete in the Westminster Griffins Classic.