DURANGO, Colo. – Facing one of the top teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), the Fort Lewis College volleyball team didn't back down. Following a tough first set and a back-and-forth second set, the Skyhawks won the third and pushed the Roadrunners in the fourth before MSU Denver escaped with the 3-1 (25-13, 27-25, 16-25, 25-21) RMAC win Saturday night at Whalen Gym.

Haley Christiansen led the offense for FLC (1-5, 1-1 RMAC) tallying 15 kills. Bailey Longacre added nine kills. Kendra Swackenberg tallied a team-high 23 assists, with Bella Valdez adding 20. Valdez also spun in three service aces. On defense, Megan Graefe had 17 digs and Christiansen added another double-double with 15. Longacre added a pair of solo blocks.

MSU Denver (6-4, 2-0 RMAC) started strong in the first set moving out to a 6-1 lead. The Skyhawks tried to chip away at the deficit, but it was too much Roadrunners as they hit .567 in the first set to claim the 25-13 opening set victory.

FLC showed their fight in the second set, as it was a close battle throughout before MSU Denver took a 22-19 lead. The Skyhawks fought their way right back into the set, as a kill by Christiansen triggered a 3-0 spurt to even the set at 22. Longacre spun in a service ace and then an attacking error by MSU Denver ended the run. The Roadrunners scored the next two points to move to set point at 24-22, but that didn't stop the Skyhawks from coming right back into the set. Christiansen drilled another kill and after the block attempt forced an attack error, it was tied again at 24-all. A Christiansen kill a few points later tied it again at 25 before the Roadrunners were able to escape getting the final two points for a 27-25 second set win and 2-0 match victory.

Trailing 4-3 early in the third set, FLC again got things going as a Longacre kill helped ignite a 5-0 run. During the spurt, MSU Denver had four attacking errors, with the last one coming on a solo block by Longacre to give FLC an 8-4 lead. In front 10-8, FLC unleashed another big run, this time a 7-0 variety with Christiansen starting the run with a kill. After that, she added another kill, Valdez spun in an ace, she then added another two more before several errors by the Roadrunners had FLC holding an 18-8 lead. Noni Thomas closed the set with a kill at 25-16 to extend the match to a fourth set.

The Skyhawks grabbed an early 5-4 lead in the fourth on a solo block by Thomas. The teams exchanged several leads throughout the set, with an Ohiyah Shirley kill helping to knot the set again, this time at 20-all. After that, MSU Denver was able to secure a few key points, outscoring FLC 5-1 down the stretch for the 25-21 set win and 3-1 match victory.

Santaisha Sturges led MSU Denver and had a match-high 20 kills. Jessa Megenhardt had 27 assists, Lyric Hebert added 23 digs and Alyssa Kelling sent back six blocks.

FLC will return to action this coming Friday when they will travel to Colorado Springs to face UC Colorado Springs starting at 7 p.m.