DURANGO, Colorado — The Skyhawks faced the always daunting combination of size and speed when they looked across the net at CSU-Pueblo on Saturday, and the Thunderwolves used those factors to overcome strong starts by the home team in each set and earn a (25-18, 25-18, 29-27) sweep over Fort Lewis College in Whalen Gymnasium.
The Skyhawks (3-6, 3-5 RMAC) were every bit as good as their opponents for long stretches of play, but inconsistency and doubt crept into their game at least once in each set, and that was all CSU-Pueblo (4-2, 2-1 RMAC) needed.
"We're trying to work through some mental battles. When a team pushes back, it seems a little doubt creeps into our heads and we experiment with things that aren't really typical for us when we just need to stay consistent with what we do," Coach Giedre Tarnauskaite said. "We doubt too much, and I just need to remind them to be confident."
The Skyhawks grabbed the first lead of the contest, but it was short-lived as CSU-Pueblo took a slight advantage early and steadily extended it throughout the set to eventually win by seven. In what would prove to be their most dominant set, the Thunderwolves outhit Fort Lewis 16-11 while also tallying three service aces and three blocks.
The Skyhawks quickly recovered from the disappointment of the first set loss and sprinted out to a 10-5 lead in the next set, but the visitors rallied impressively to rattle off six straight points and take an 11-10 advantage. Fort Lewis would stop the bleeding momentarily, but the momentum had shifted to the Thunderwolves and the Skyhawks fell by another 25-18 tally.
The hosts rallied again to start set number three and led by as many as three early, but CSU-Pueblo fought back to take a 10-9 lead. This time however, the Skyhawks pushed back and surged ahead to take a 24-21 lead and earn a crack at three set points.
The Thunderwolves were able to hold on though, and eventually forced a set point of their own to close out the Skyhawks in a 29-27 nail-biter.
"We practiced really well this week, but it just didn't translate onto the court," Tarnauskaite said. "We need to realize it is going to take every point for us to perform at the highest level against teams like that."
CSU-Pueblo used a 5-1 advantage in blocks to take control at the net, and used that superiority to record a .294 to .182 edge  in hitting efficiency. Although the Skyhawks only committed one more error than the visiting team on the attack (15-14), the Thunderwolves tallied 49 kills to only 35 for Fort Lewis.
"I think more than anything it was the speed that challenged us. Their right sides ran a quicker offense, and put a lot of pressure on our defense," Tarnauskaite reasoned.
CSU-Pueblo also got eight service aces in the contest to only three for Fort Lewis, and that factor kept the home team from ever truly seizing the momentum.
"It definitely can change momentum, and in this game it did. That just creates that much more pressure for us, and it combines with doubt for a perfect storm sometimes," the coach shrugged.
Tarnauskaite was pleased with her team's resilience and proud that they seemed to enjoy an edge on the longer points when things break down and the players are forced to execute on instinct.
"I think we do perform really well in long rallies. We're relentless and it shows a lot of character," Tarnauskaite smiled.
Libero Kamryn Lopez logged some of her 10 digs on those rallies, and her ability to cover large portions of the floor stood out to her coach.
"Kam Lopez was relentless defensively again. I think she covered half the court," Tarnauskaite said.
Alexa Treguboff led the way offensively by hitting .303 while logging 14 kills on 33 attack attempts. She added an assist and 11 digs to her totals, and the team's lone senior seemed to come up with big plays when Fort Lewis needed them most.
"She really is a good student of the game, and I think her experience on the court showed today. She has been really pushing herself for the last month to keep finding even more ways to be an offensive threat, and I think she can do even more. But I think she did really well tonight," the coach remarked.
Junior outside hitter Madi Nash chipped in with 10 kills, eight digs, and a pair of service aces, and junior setter Makena Ahuna had 30 assists, eight digs and the team's other service ace. Rylee Johnson and Avynn La Rose had five kills apiece, and Johnson recorded the squad's only block of the match.
The Skyhawks will get a week off and try to get back on the winning side of the ledger next Saturday when they hit the road for Gunnison and a three-team pod against Regis University and Western Colorado University. They will begin play against the host Mountaineers at 11 a.m. and follow that up with a 2 p.m. tilt against the Rangers.
