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Angela Roberts, FLC Athletic Communications

Skyhawks on the road to wrap up nonconference schedule, set to compete in three matches

9/1/2022 12:00:00 PM

By: Angela Roberts, Assistant AD - Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – The road warriors are back this week as the Fort Lewis College volleyball team heads to Texas for the Lonestar Tournament hosted by Lubbock Christian University. The Skyhawks will face Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Lubbock Christian University, and Texas Permian Basin to wrap up the nonconference portion of their schedule.

Last Time Out
The Skyhawks started the season with an impressive sweep over Western New Mexico University to kick off the opening tournament. The team hit .333 as a unit, paced by sophomore Alexis Hobie who tallied 15 kills at a .462 clip. Senior Rylee Johnson returned to the court with nine kills on a .563 efficiency. Sophomore Natalia Lambos coordinated the offense with 32 assists to go along with a team-best 10 digs.

A pair of five-setter followed the sweep, both of which saw 16-14 deciding sets. First, Fort Lewis dropped a match to UW Parkside to close out the Friday session. Eight players picked up kills for the Skyhawks, led again by Hobie (12). Freshman Ella Butler provided a spark off the bench, coming in for eight kills (.389) to go along with four blocks. Senior Kamryn Lopez has a season-high 17 digs to lead the team.

In the tournament finale, the Skyhawks fell just short in a near reverse sweep of Cal State East Bay. Johnson and Butler each reached double-digit kills at 14 and 10, respectively. Sophomore Jade Martinez teams up with Lambos to run the offense and collected 16 assists. Lopez came away with 13 digs, followed by Martinez and Butler at eight apiece.

Scouting SWOSU
The Bulldogs were 1-3 last week, dropping a five-set match and a pair of three-set matches. The lone win came in 3-0 fashion over Truman State on Friday. SWOSU, a historically successful program, was 20-8 last season with an unblemished 9-0 record at home. The team made it to the Great American Conference Tournament second round before falling 3-1 to Arkansas Tech.

Despite the losing record, the Bulldogs boast impressive stat markers after the opening weekend. The team is hitting .238 while holding the opposition to a .205 mark. They are even, 15-15, on service aces to errors. Defense has been stout with 16.6 digs per set and 1.6 blocks per set. An area of improvement could be pointed out in the reception category where SWOSU is averaging 2.1 errors per set.

Maicee Morgan and Lacy Mott lead the team at the net by combining for just under eight kills per set. Terez Chavez runs things from the setting position with 10.14 assists per set to go along with 3.00 digs per set. Kylie Talbott leads the team with 4.17 digs per set to go along with a .906 receiving percentage. Middle blocker Zoey Sparks paces the team with 1.00 blocks per set after a huge seven-block outing versus William Jewell last week.

Scouting Lubbock Christian
The Chaps were 1-3 at the Seawolf Invitations in Anchorage, Alaska last week. The team's lone win came in straight sets over Emmanuel College to wrap up the opening weekend. Lubbock is coming off a great showing in 2021 where the team was 20-8 overall and 14-3 in the league. They made it to the Lonestar Conference Tournament semifinal before falling to St. Edwards.

Lubbock is averaging 11.9 kills per set on a .203 efficiency which is slightly lower than that of their opponents early in the season. The most efficient match of the season came in a four-set loss to Alaska Fairbanks where the group hit .258 with 49 kills. The Chaps are averaging 2.1 blocks per set and 15.1 digs per set.

Lily Bickley has been the main outlet for the offense through four matches, averaging 3.50 kills per set on a .322 hitting percentage. Four players are averaging two or more kills per set to round out a balanced, diverse offense for the red and blue. Kayton Genenbacher has assumed the setting duties in her sophomore season and averages 9.64 assists per set. Kendall Mahaney has been relentless in the backcourt this season, averaging an outstanding 5.14 digs per set.

Scouting Permian Basin
The Falcons went 3-1 at the Dr. Steve Aicinena "Iceman" Invitational last week. The Team snagged wins over Eastern New Mexico, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and Southwest (N.M.) before falling 3-1 to (RV) Augustana. UTPB is coming all a 17-11 season in 2021 which saw a 10-7 record in conference play.

After the opening weekend of play, the Falcons are hitting .171 as a team compared to a .100 efficiency for the opposition. Serving and blocking have been a major key in the success thus far. The team is averaging 2.1 aces per set and an impressive 2.8 blocks per set through four matches. Both marks are significant improvements on the team's average from 2021.

Aquincia Strambler is leading the way offensively with 3.46 kills per game on a .271 hitting efficiency. The Falcons run a balanced offense with six additional players averaging at least one kill per set early in the year. Additionally, three setters have seen time on the court. Devin Alcoser has started three matches at the setter position and averages 4.06 assists per set. Taurie Magee and Chandra Reed have been a wall at the net, averaging 1.50 and 1.20 blocks per set, respectively.

Fort Lewis Leaders
The Skyhawks are running a balanced offense this season, and it is led by sophomore Alexis Hobie who is averaging 2.77 kills per set on a .278 percentage at the pin. Senior Rylee Johnson follows closely behind with 2.46 kills per set at an impressive .391 hitting percentage. Freshman Ella Butler has made a splash in two matches thus far, connecting for 2.25 kills per set while leading the team with .75 services aces per set.

Senior Kamryn Lopez is pacing the team at 3.00 digs per set to go along with a .973 reception percentage in 73 attempts. Sophomore Natalia Lambos follows with 2.17 digs per set while orchestrating the offense at 7.75 assists per set. Senior Joviana Romero has seen time in all six rotations and boasts a .963 receiving percentage in a team-high 80 attempts. The Skyhawks have four players who are averaging half a block per set early in the season as the team's size advantage has been evident early in the season.

Up Next
Fort Lewis (1-2) will see the court for one more road contest on Tuesday, September 6 versus New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M. before making its home debut. The first home game of the season will be on Saturday, September 10 when the Skyhawks welcome No. 4 MSU Denver for a 6:00 p.m. slate. 
 
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