DURANGO, Colo. – With postseason positioning on the line, the Fort Lewis College volleyball team returns to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action this weekend for a challenging two-match road trip against two of the league's top teams. The Skyhawks will face defending NCAA Division II National Champion (RV) MSU Denver on Friday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. inside the Auraria Event Center before traveling to Colorado Springs for a Saturday, Oct. 31, matchup against UCCS at 3 p.m. inside the Gallogly Events Center.

Fort Lewis (12-10, 5-5 RMAC) enters the weekend eighth in the conference standings, occupying the final qualifying position for the eight-team RMAC Tournament. The Skyhawks will face the league-leading Roadrunners (16-6, 9-1 RMAC) before challenging a UCCS squad (13-9, 8-2 RMAC) tied for second in the standings.

With only one team having officially clinched a postseason berth entering the week, the Skyhawks have an opportunity to strengthen their tournament position against two formidable opponents.

Looking Back

Fort Lewis returns to conference competition following a pair of five-set battles during RMAC Power Pod action at Whalen Gymnasium last week. The Skyhawks opened the weekend with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Adams State before falling in five sets to Colorado Christian.

The Skyhawks' defensive effort highlighted Thursday's victory over the Grizzlies, with Fort Lewis collecting 104 digs and holding Adams State to a -.158 hitting percentage in the decisive fifth set. The Skyhawks controlled the final frame, 15-7, to secure the victory.

Against Colorado Christian, Fort Lewis battled through another five-set contest, recording 58 kills and 77 digs. The Skyhawks ultimately came up short, but the back-to-back five-set matches provided valuable experience entering the final stretch of conference play.

The Power Pod contests did not count toward RMAC standings, leaving Fort Lewis at 5-5 in conference competition.

Scouting (RV) MSU Denver

MSU Denver enters Friday's contest atop the RMAC standings with a 16-6 overall record and a 9-1 conference mark. The Roadrunners have won eight consecutive matches and have already secured a berth in the 2026 RMAC Tournament.

The defending national champions captured the 2025 NCAA Division II title with a 3-1 victory over Concordia-St. Paul and entered the 2026 season ranked third nationally in the AVCA preseason poll.

Offensively, MSU Denver has continued to be one of the conference's most efficient programs, entering the weekend with a .248 team hitting percentage while averaging 14.10 kills per set.

The Roadrunners are led offensively by Brooke Gennerman, who has totaled a team-high 315 kills and averages 4.20 kills per set while hitting .278. Gennerman also leads the team with 26 service aces among its primary attackers and has contributed 193 digs. Hayden Liebsack provides another offensive weapon with 223 kills (3.14 per set), while Kamdyn Scott has added 178 kills on a .246 hitting percentage.

GabriElle Brewer directs the Roadrunners' offense with 702 assists, averaging 9.12 per set, while also leading the team with 33 service aces. At the net, Mayah Pridgett has been particularly efficient, hitting .313 with 130 kills and 63 total blocks. Trynity Martin leads the team with 65 blocks, adding 109 kills.

Defensively, Mia Accomazzo anchors the back row with 319 digs, averaging 4.14 per set.

MSU Denver's only conference loss came against Colorado Mesa on Sept. 18 in a five-set battle. Since then, the Roadrunners have established themselves as the team to beat in the conference race.

Scouting UCCS

UCCS enters the weekend with a 13-9 overall record and an 8-2 mark in RMAC competition, tied for second place alongside Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa.

The Mountain Lions are seeking a return to the NCAA Tournament after qualifying for the national postseason in 2025. UCCS entered the 2026 campaign receiving votes in the AVCA preseason poll following a successful previous season.

UCCS is led offensively by Payton Tompkins, who has amassed a team-high 303 kills, averaging 3.70 per set while hitting .259. Tompkins has also contributed 214 digs and 25 service aces, establishing herself as a consistent six-rotation threat for the Mountain Lions.

Sydney Hyde has provided efficiency in the middle, leading UCCS with a .303 hitting percentage while totaling 181 kills (2.21 per set). Nicole Himebauch has added 177 kills on a .283 clip, while Sydni Lafasciano has recorded 154 kills and 170 digs.

The Mountain Lions use multiple setters, led by Aubrey Miller with 452 assists (5.65 per set), while Charlette Albers has added 223 assists. Defensively, Alysse Marcoso leads the team with 302 digs, averaging 4.14 per set.

UCCS has also been effective at the net, averaging 2.07 blocks per set. Himebauch and Hyde share the team lead with 78 total blocks apiece, both averaging 0.95 blocks per set.

Despite its strong conference record, UCCS enters the week looking to regain momentum after dropping three consecutive matches overall. The Mountain Lions remain firmly in contention for a top-four conference finish and the opportunity to host an RMAC Tournament quarterfinal.

UCCS has been particularly effective in conference competition, winning 25 sets while dropping just 11 across its first 10 RMAC matches. The Mountain Lions also boast a 7-3 overall record on their home court.

Around the RMAC

The race for the 2026 RMAC Volleyball Championship remains competitive entering the final stretch of the regular season. MSU Denver leads the conference at 9-1, while Colorado School of Mines, Colorado Mesa and UCCS are tied for second at 8-2.

Fort Lewis enters the weekend eighth at 5-5, with Western Colorado, CSU Pueblo and Black Hills State among the teams attempting to climb into tournament contention.

The top eight teams in the final conference standings will qualify for the RMAC Tournament, which begins Tuesday, Nov. 10. Quarterfinal matches will be hosted by the higher-seeded teams.

Up Next

Following the weekend road trip, Fort Lewis will turn its attention to the final stretch of the regular season as the Skyhawks continue their pursuit of an RMAC Tournament berth.

Both matches this weekend will be streamed on the RMAC Network, with live statistics and additional information available at goskyhawks.com.