Fort Lewis College volleyball sees season come to an end against No. 8 MSU Denver

Fort Lewis FLC 13-13,6-8 RMAC

MSU Denver MSUD 21-5,13-1 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC

13-13,6-8 RMAC

Final

Nov. 11, 2023

MSU Denver MSUD

21-5,13-1 RMAC

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	F
Fort Lewis FLC	18	14	21	(0)
MSU Denver MSUD	25	25	25	(3)

Summary
Box Score

Cole Davis, FLC Photographer

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | 11/11/2023 5:49:00 PM | Angela Roberts, Assistant AD-Communications

Fort Lewis College volleyball sees season come to an end against No. 8 MSU Denver

DENVER – The Fort Lewis College volleyball team saw its season come to a close on Saturday evening in a loss to No. 8 MSU Denver. The Skyhawks ended the year with a 13-13 overall record, the most wins for the program since 2010.

Fort Lewis was limited to a .019 hitting efficiency against one of the nation's top defenses while MSU Denver recorded a .269 efficiency. The Roadrunners ended the match with 14 total blocks compared to six for the Skyhawks, and the teams combined for 82 digs.

Freshman Alina Nunez led the team with 11 kills and 11 digs for her second career double-double. Sophomore Ella Butler followed with six kills and freshman Jordyn Romano had five (.300). Junior Natalia Lambos recorded 25 assists. Senior Chay Swenson and junior Sarah Wilkey each recorded seven digs.

"We wanted to finish the season with one more victory, and even though that didn't happen, I am proud of how we showed up tonight," said head coach Giedre Tarnauskaite. "Our middles put a lot of pressure on MSU Denver, and Alina was a key player on the pin."

After playing even early in the set, an ace from Wilkey gave the Skyhawks their first lead of the set at 8-7. After extending the lead to two points, the Roadrunners responded with three points to make it 11-10. The block of Butler and Nunez earned an eventual side out to see another tied score at 11-all. MSU Denver surged ahead thanks to the RMAC's best blocking unit to force a Fort Lewis timeout at 17-14. Out of the timeout, the Skyhawks picked up points off of service errors and a Butler kill, but the deficit grew to five points. MSU Denver reached set points with a kill out of the middle and secured the set thanks to an attacking error.

MSU Denver jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second set before Fort Lewis scored a pair of points from Nunez. The home team extended the lead to six points on two occasions with a Swenson kill in the mix of points. Romano put away a kill out of the middle, but the Roadrunners remained ahead with a 15-6 advantage to force a timeout. Out of the break, Butler and Nunez combined for three kills to make it a 15-9 score. MSU Denver widened the gap down the stretch and made it 23-13 after a service error. Another serving miscue brought on set point and the Roadrunners' 12^th block of the night secured a two-set advantage.

The teams played to four tied scores through the early points of set three before the Roadrunners enjoyed a run to make it 14-9. The Skyhawks scored a pair out of the break, capped off by an extended rally to make it 14-11. Fort Lewis continued to stay within striking distance, forcing an MSU Denver timeout after a solo block from Romano to see the score at 17-14. Swenson dropped in a service ace down the stretch, but MSU Denver made it match point thanks to an attacking error. Butler extended the match with her sixth kill, followed by Nunez's 11^th, but an eventual kill ended the set in a 25-21 score.

"Overall, we had a successful season. Fort Lewis volleyball had its most wins in 13 seasons which is something to be proud of. We have gotten better every year, and we plan to continue to climb," said Tarnauskaite.

The loss marks the end of senior Chay Swenson's Fort Lewis College career. Swenson battled injuries throughout her career but came on strong in her senior campaign. This season, the Oregon native averaged 2.38 kills per set and wrapped up her career with 269 total kills and 149 total digs.

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