DURANGO, Colo. – Following a trip to Salt Lake City to open the season, the Fort Lewis College volleyball team will now get to enjoy playing at Whalen Gymnasium this weekend when they host Chadron State College on Friday starting at 7 p.m. and then on Saturday at 5 p.m. against MSU Denver.
The Skyhawks (0-4) came close in a pair of matches to start the trip last week, as they played a five-set marathon against host Westminster before the Griffins escaped with the 15-11 win in the decisive set. The next match later that day, FLC went against Truman State, a team that was receiving votes in the AVCA National Poll, and rallied from dropping the first set to claim the second set and then nearly won the fourth set (25-21) before the Bulldogs took the win. It was a pair of tough matchups past Saturday to close the tournament, as Lubbock Christian and MSU Mankato each won by scores of 3-0, but the Skyhawks came close in three of those sets getting to at least 20 points.
Haley Christiansen leads the team in kills with 46, while Bailey Longacre (30), Ohiyah Shirley (25) and Maddie LeBlanc (16) all have double-digit kills so far this season. Bella Valdez leads the team in assists with 85, whole Kendra Swackenberg has added 38. On defense, Christiansen also leads the team in digs with 60, followed by 36 from Megan Graefe. LeBlanc has sent back a team-best 10 blocks.
As a team, FLC ranks eighth in the RMAC in blocks per set (1.60), hitting percentage (.175) and ninth in team attacks per set (35.80). Christiansen is sixth in the conference and 91st nationally in attacks per set (9.73), she is also 10th in the conference in kills per set (3.07), 12th in digs per set (4.00) and 13th in points per set (3.23). Valdez is 13th in assists per set (5.67), while Shirley is 17th in attacks per set (8.00).
First up will be a matchup with Chadron State. The Eagles are 2-6 this season, as after starting 0-4, they went 2-2 in Pittsburg, Kan., picking up wins against Christian Brothers and Northwestern Oklahoma State. Aracely Hernandez leads the team in kills with 88, while Brooke Gardner is right behind with 87. Madison Webb has been the main setter with 274 assists, while on defense, Ashton Burditt has 173 digs and Chandler Hageman has sent back 23 blocks.
Last season, the two teams also met in Durango back on Oct. 13 and the Eagles picked up the 3-0 victory. The third set was the closest of the three (25-23). Longacre and LeBlanc led the offense with Longacre tallying 12 kills to 10 for LeBlanc. Swackenberg had 30 assists, Graefe had 14 digs and Longacre had three blocks.
Chadron State has won the last three games in the series by 3-0 scores. The teams didn't play in 2014, but in 2013, FLC won by a 3-0 score.
To close the weekend, FLC will go against MSU Denver. The Roadrunners are off to a 4-4 start, having picked up wins against Fresno Pacific, Seattle Pacific, Texas A&M Commerce and Saint Leo. Taylor Duryea has powered the offense with 104 kills, while Santaisha Sturges has added 93. Morgan Weatherwax has 194 assists, while on defense, Lyric Hebert has 142 digs and Stephanie Laraway has sent back 29 blocks.
Last year, the two teams met in Denver on Sep. 23 with the Roadrunners taking the 3-0 victory. It was a tight first set, decided by just two points (25-23). LeBlanc led the offense with 10 kills, Swackenberg added 26 assists and Graefe had 15 digs.
MSU Denver has won the past four meetings in the series, as FLC won back in 2013 in Durango, 3-2.
Live video and stats will be available for both games.
