DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College volleyball team shook off a tough start against Chadron State Friday evening to end up coming back to down the Eagles 3-1 (17-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-21) in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
Chadron State (2-7, 0-1 RMAC) came out swinging posting a .273 hitting percentage in the opening set. After that, FLC (1-4, 1-0 RMAC) held the Eagles to hitting averages of .086, .107 and .163. The Skyhawks countered with a .167 percentage in the second set, .269 in the third and .200 in the fourth. For the match, FLC had 57 kills to 30 errors in 156 swings for a .173 percentage. CSC had 44 kills to 22 errors in 139 attempts and a .158 percentage.
Bailey Longacre led three Skyhawks in double-figures with 14 kills. Haley Christiansen and Ohiyah Shirley added 12 apiece. Megan Graefe spun in four service aces, with Bella Valdez adding three. Noni Thomas sent back four blocks, while Graefe had 18 digs. Valdez set the offense with 32 assists, while Kendra Swackenberg added 20.
The Eagles quickly moved out to a 9-4 lead in the opening set. FLC tried to gain traction later in the set using a 5-2 run with points from Christiansen, Valdez, Tye Wedhorn and Shirley, but CSC closed the set with a kill from Aracely Hernandez for the 25-17 opening set victory.
In the second set, FLC broke open a slim 6-5 lead with a 4-0 run backed by a kill from Jacalyn Sharko, a block by Christiansen and after an attack error, a service ace by Sharko for the 10-5 advantage. Chadron State began to work their way back into the set, pulling to within one at 15-14. Ahead 19-17, a double-block by Longacre and Valdez sparked a quick 3-0 run with Thomas and Valdez adding their own double-block and after an Eagle attacking error, it was 22-17 for FLC. CSC got back to within two a couple of times before Sharko ended the set with a kill at 25-22.
Trailing 2-1 early in the third set, FLC reeled off the next five points with Shirley starting the run with a kill. After three errors by the Eagles, Sharko added a kill for a 6-2 Skyhawk advantage. Another run of 4-0 later in the set had the lead out to 10 at 19-9 with Thomas, Christiansen and Sharko contributing points. The lead stayed around 8-10 the rest of the way with Christiansen sealing the set with a kill at 25-16 to move FLC to a 2-1 match lead.
Chadron State came out ready to start the fourth set, as they moved in front 11-7. FLC refused to go away with Christiansen recording a kill on the next point to send the Skyhawks on a 7-0 run. Shirley and Christiansen then took over the rest of the run adding six kills, with four from Christiansen. The Eagles fought back to tie on a couple of occasions, with the last coming at 19-all. Christiansen answered on the next point to help push FLC in front for good. After she added yet another kill in the set, Shirley added a pair of kills, along with a kill by Thomas and a service ace by Valdez to move to match point at 24-19. Following two points by Chadron State, Shirley and Thomas combined on a double-block to send FLC to the 25-21 fourth set win and 3-1 match victory.
Shelby Schouten led the Eagles with 11 kills, followed by 10 from Hernandez. Madison Webb had 36 assists, Ashton Burditt with 23 digs and Timmi Keisel had three blocks.
FLC will return to action tomorrow (Saturday) night when they will host MSU Denver starting at 5 p.m. inside Whalen Gym. The Roadrunners rolled to a 3-0 victory earlier tonight against Adams State.
