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Fort Lewis College Athletics

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MSU Denver versus Fort Lewis University, RMAC Quarterfinals, Auraria Event Center, Denver, Colorado, USA, Thursday, November, 10, 2022
Darral Freund, MSU Denver Athletics

Women's Volleyball Angela Roberts, Assistant AD - Communications

Volleyball heads south for season-opening Patriot Classic

DURANGO, Colo. – Volleyball is back. The Skyhawks have been grinding through preseason and the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year, and they will finally have the chance to take the court this week at the UT-Tyler Tournament. Fort Lewis will compete in four matches inside of the Louise Herrington Patriot Center, including two against squads that advanced to the 2022 NCAA Division II Tournament.

Looking Back
Fort Lewis owned a 10-15 overall record in 2022, including an 8-10 record in conference play. The team faced eight nationally ranked foes throughout the year, including three matches versus No. 1-ranked MSU Denver. Fort Lewis claimed four sweeps and six, four-set wins throughout the season.

The Skyhawks averaged 1.6 aces per set to establish a program record—previously 1.4 aces per set in 2021. The team also improved its hitting efficiency by nearly 20 points while facing one of the toughest schedules in recent history. The front row averaged 1.7 blocks per set which was the most since an identical average in the 2019 season.

Sophomore Alexis Hobie led the team by averaging 3.25 kills per set, followed by junior Lauren Shea at 2.05 per set. Freshman Butler was not far behind with 1.40 kills per set (.220) and a team-best 38 service aces. Sophomore Natalia Lambos coordinated the offense for much of the year and grew into a role that had her averaging 8.10 assists per set. Senior Kamryn Lopez closed out her career by averaging 4.03 digs per set—a career-high.

The duo of Hobie and Butler were named to the All-RMAC teams, Hobie on the Second Team and Butler finding a spot on the Honorable Mention list as a true freshman.

Scouting Dallas Baptist University
The Patriots boasted a 25-7 overall record in 2022, including a 14-2 clip in conference play. DBU was also undefeated on its home court with eleven wins. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 18 Colorado Mesa University in five sets in the opening match. The team returns an All-American to the roster in middle blocker Shaylee Shore. Shore averaged 1.93 kills per set at a .386 efficiency to go along with 70 blocks in 2022. Libero Leah Palensky is back as well after averaging 3.55 digs per set last season. The Patriots boast a veteran roster with five seniors, six juniors, no sophomores, and a handful of newcomers.

Scouting St. Edward's University
The Hilltoppers were 9-18 overall and 6-10 in conference play last season. Their season came to a close in a 3-1 loss to Texas A&M International in early November. SEU has added seven freshmen to the roster to go along with six seniors, one junior, and a trio of sophomores. A statistical highlight for the squad last season came in the blocking category where they averaged 2.4 blocks per set compared to 1.6 for the opposition. Another defensive dandy is Sarah Konovodoff who returns as libero with 996 career digs. She averaged 4.91 digs per set last season.

Scouting (RV) UT Tyler
The Patriots were 20-10 in 2022 and 12-4 in the Lone Star Conference. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual National Champions, West Texas A&M, in the South Central Regional Tournament. The program graduated a decorated senior class but returned a handful of contributors to the squad. Maiya Pena returns after a Second Team All-LSC showing in 2022 as an outside hitter. Another pair returns as Honorable Mention All-LSC picks last season in Dakota Rogers-Hurtado (middle blocker) and Adeline Ortman (setter).

Scouting Southern Nazarene University
The Storm owned a 16-14 record last season, including a 9-7 mark in Great American Conference play. The season ended in the GAC Quarterfinal in a five-set loss to SWOSU. Opposite hitter, Sunny Batschelett returns to the scene after picking up First Team All-Conference accolades last year. She averaged 3.19 kills per set and totaled 82 blocks in her fourth season at SNU. Kaley Brubacker returns as the team's primary setter after averaging 10.51 assists per set last season. Fort Lewis and SNU have faced each other once, a three-set win in favor of the Storm in 2016.

Who's Back?
I've already mentioned a handful of players who make their return to the hardwood in 2023, but the depth of this roster goes beyond those aforementioned athletes. JJ Curry returns on the pin after playing in 75 sets during her first year in blue and gold. She averaged 1.71 kills per set and 1.13 digs per set to go along with 15 service aces. Chay Swenson makes her return after being sidelined due to injury in 2022.  Swenson owns career makes of 174 kills and 94 digs heading into her senior season.

Sarah Wilkey is another key piece of the puzzle, playing in the backcourt with the ability to step in as an offensive threat. The Idaho native spent time at libero in 2022 and enters the season with 137 digs. Jade Martinez is the final returner after playing in 27 sets last season. She turned in 156 assists to go along with 55 digs.

Around the RMAC
After finishing eighth in the league and advancing to the RMAC Tournament in 2022, the Skyhawks have been selected to finish ninth overall in the 2023 RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Fort Lewis garnered 93 votes, coming in behind South Dakota Mines (100) and UCCS (114). MSU Denver, the reigning regular-season and tournament champion earned 13 first-place votes, followed by Regis University and Colorado Mesa who each picked up one first-place nod. Junior Alexis Hobie, sophomore Ella Butler, and freshman Alina Nunez were tabbed as preseason players to watch for the Skyhawks.

The league has four programs ranked in the 2023 AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Preseason Poll, led by MSU Denver comes in at No. 3. Regis University (No. 18), Colorado Mesa University (No. 21), and Colorado School of Mines (No. 22) follow in the first poll of the season.

Up Next
Fort Lewis will be home next week for the inaugural FLC Tournament as we welcome five programs to Whalen for a three-day event. The tournament information, including a comprehensive schedule, can be found here.
 
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Players Mentioned

Kamryn Lopez

#2 Kamryn Lopez

DS
5' 2"
Senior
Ella Butler

#20 Ella Butler

MB
6' 0"
Sophomore
JJ Curry

#11 JJ Curry

OH
5' 11"
Senior
Alexis Hobie

#17 Alexis Hobie

OH
6' 2"
Junior
Natalia Lambos

#8 Natalia Lambos

S
5' 9"
Junior
Jade Martinez

#12 Jade Martinez

S
5' 9"
Junior
Lauren Shea

#19 Lauren Shea

RS
6' 1"
Senior
Chay Swenson

#1 Chay Swenson

OH
6' 0"
Senior
Sarah Wilkey

#15 Sarah Wilkey

DS
5' 6"
Junior
Alina Nunez

#13 Alina Nunez

OH
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kamryn Lopez

#2 Kamryn Lopez

5' 2"
Senior
DS
Ella Butler

#20 Ella Butler

6' 0"
Sophomore
MB
JJ Curry

#11 JJ Curry

5' 11"
Senior
OH
Alexis Hobie

#17 Alexis Hobie

6' 2"
Junior
OH
Natalia Lambos

#8 Natalia Lambos

5' 9"
Junior
S
Jade Martinez

#12 Jade Martinez

5' 9"
Junior
S
Lauren Shea

#19 Lauren Shea

6' 1"
Senior
RS
Chay Swenson

#1 Chay Swenson

6' 0"
Senior
OH
Sarah Wilkey

#15 Sarah Wilkey

5' 6"
Junior
DS
Alina Nunez

#13 Alina Nunez

5' 9"
Freshman
OH