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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Bailey Longacre
Max DeHerrera/Sports Fanatic Photography
FLC senior Bailey Longacre set a career-high Friday with seven aces (File photo)
2
Southeastern Okla. SE 0-0
3
Winner Fort Lewis FLC 1-0
Southeastern Okla. SE
0-0
2
Final
3
Fort Lewis FLC
1-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Southeastern Okla. SE 17 25 23 25 7 (2)
Fort Lewis FLC 25 21 25 21 15 (3)
3
Winner Fort Lewis FLC 2-0
1
Northwestern Okla. NW 0-0
Winner
Fort Lewis FLC
2-0
3
Final
1
Northwestern Okla. NW
0-0
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Fort Lewis FLC 25 24 26 26 (3)
Northwestern Okla. NW 23 26 24 24 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

FLC volleyball opens season with a pair of wins at Kathleen Brasfield ASU Invitational

SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Fort Lewis College volleyball team got its 2019 season off to a fast start, picking up a pair of wins on Day One of the Kathleen Brasfield ASU Invitational, hosted by Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.

There was no easing into the new campaign for Fort Lewis (2-0 overall) as the Skyhawks started the day with a thrilling five-set victory (25-17, 21-25, 25-23, 21-25 and 15-7) over Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Fort Lewis then capped the evening with a tight, four-set victory (25-23, 24-26, 26-24 and 26-24) against Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

"I was proud to see us come out competitive, focused and disciplined," said Fort Lewis head volleyball coach, Tricia Melfy. "We weathered the storm. A five-setter is never the easiest way to start your season with. But, in a way, it's kind of a good thing to start your season with a five-setter just because you've seen it all; the ups and downs, the good and the bad in a match. It was a great way to get acclimated by playing that much volleyball."

In the victory over Southeastern, the Skyhawks were led by senior middle blocker Bailey Longacre as the Highland Village, Texas native thrived back in her home state, finishing with team highs in kills (12), aces (7) and total points (20.5).

The seven aces were also a career-high for Longacre, shattering her previous best mark of three set back on Sept. 28, 2018 against New Mexico Highlands University.

"Bailey was super accurate. We found an angle that we needed to serve at," Melfy said. "We knew the angle and where we wanted to serve and she was hitting it with an aggressive, flat serve. She hit the area and hit it well, which led to some big points."

Sophomore outside hitter joined Longacre in double-figures with 10 kills, while sophomore middle Tye Wedhorn added nine kills and a team-high four block assists.

The difference for the Skyhawks against Southeastern came on the defensive side of the net, though, led by the duo of senior outside hitter Ohiyah Shirley and freshman libero Kamryn Lopez.

Lopez shined in her first collegiate match with a team-high 25 digs, while Shirley was close behind with 24 digs to go with her five kills.

"Our focus is defense first, then run everything through our middles," Melfy said. "I think those digs for Ohiyah and Kamryn came early, then came late and that's probably why we ended up winning that match. We were relentless on defense."

In the nightcap, defense again led the way for Fort Lewis as Lopez popped up 20 digs, Shirley added seven kils and 14 digs, and junior outside hitter Chandler Karr impressed in her first action of the day with eight kills and 15 digs.

"I thought our outsides were better in that second match. Chandler Karr was great and showed her leadership and experience she brought in here as a transfer," Melfy said. "She was super calm and was a great presence in all six rotations. Our outside hitters stepping up in that second match I think was the difference maker."

FLC also received a strong performance all day long from redshirt freshman setter Courtney Bayles.

The native of nearby Bayfield followed up her 31-assist, six-kill performance in the first match against Southeastern with 33 digs and six more kills against Northwestern.

"Courtney got the call and I think she stepped up," Melfty said. "Kendra Swackenberg (assistant coach) was giving a lot of instruction to her and I think she did a nice job taking that instruction to heart. She set up hitters at the right times, her accuracy was nice, and she made herself a threat in the front row."

The Skyhawks will now look to rest up before they continue their stretch of match matches in three days with a pair of contests on Saturday.

FLC wraps up the Kathleen Brasfield ASU Invitational with matchups against tournament hosts San Angelo State University (12 p.m.) and Texas A&M University-Kingsville (4 p.m.).

"We definitely need to get the girls rested and recovered. (Friday) was a grind and I only played about 9-10 total girls," Melfy said. "I do want to look at some other players because they do deserve a chance to get into games (Saturday). I think we just need to continue to feed off the fact that, when we're playing good defense, we'll have a lot of success no matter who is in the game."
 
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