DENVER – The Fort Lewis College volleyball team pushed one of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's top teams to the brink Friday night, taking (RV) MSU Denver to five sets before falling 3-2 (25-21, 9-25, 25-21, 19-25, 10-15) inside the Auraria Event Center.

The Skyhawks (12-11, 5-6 RMAC) claimed the opening and third sets against the Roadrunners (17-6, 10-1 RMAC), but MSU Denver rallied to secure the conference victory.

Alina Nunez led the Skyhawks offensively with a team-high 18 kills and 12 digs for a double-double, while Cambria Freymuth and Caroline Munson added 11 kills apiece. Munson was particularly efficient at the net, hitting .368 with just four errors on 19 attempts, while Freymuth finished with a .276 hitting percentage.

Junior setter Addie Garn directed the offense with 41 assists and 10 digs for a double-double of her own, while Alyx Daugherty anchored the back row with a match-high 24 digs. Ellie Ames contributed three kills, two service aces and three block assists.

How It Happened

Fort Lewis opened the evening with an impressive offensive performance, hitting .375 in the first set with 15 kills and just three attacking errors. The two teams traded points throughout the opening frame before MSU Denver took a narrow 21-20 advantage. The Skyhawks responded with five unanswered points, highlighted by a kill from Munson and consecutive service aces from Ames, to secure the 25-21 victory.

The Roadrunners answered emphatically in the second set, jumping out to a 10-3 advantage and never looking back. MSU Denver held Fort Lewis to a -.214 hitting percentage while cruising to a 25-9 victory to even the match at one set apiece.

Fort Lewis regained its rhythm in the third, hitting .282 behind 14 kills. After battling through several ties, the Skyhawks built a 15-12 advantage before MSU Denver rallied to even the score at 16-16. Fort Lewis responded with timely offense from Nunez, Freymuth and Munson, eventually taking a 24-21 lead before an attacking error by the Roadrunners sealed the 25-21 win.

Facing a potential upset, MSU Denver responded in the fourth set. The Roadrunners broke open a tightly contested frame with a 7-0 run to take a 22-15 advantage. Fort Lewis fought back with three consecutive points late in the set, but MSU Denver closed out the 25-19 victory to force a decisive fifth frame.

In the final set, Fort Lewis battled back from an early deficit to briefly take a 6-4 advantage. However, the Roadrunners regained control down the stretch and secured the 15-10 victory to complete the comeback.

MSU Denver finished the match hitting .236 with 58 kills and 12 team blocks, while Fort Lewis recorded 49 kills, 61 digs and four team blocks. Brooke Gennerman paced the Roadrunners with 25 kills on .396 hitting, while GabriElle Brewer added 30 assists and seven service aces.

Inside the Box Score

• Nunez recorded a team-high 18 kills and 12 digs for a double-double.

• Daugherty led all players with 24 digs.

• Garn finished with 41 assists and 10 digs for a double-double.

• Munson tallied 11 kills on .368 hitting.

• Freymuth added 11 kills and five digs.

• Ames registered two service aces and three block assists.

• Fort Lewis hit .375 in the opening set and .282 in the third.

Up Next

Fort Lewis continues its RMAC road schedule tomorrow with a 3:00 p.m. match against UCCS.