DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College volleyball team jumps into conference play this week with its longest trek of the season, heading to South Dakota to face Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines.
 

Last Time Out

The Skyhawks showed what they're capable of last week, going unbeaten at the Royce Cappis Invitational in Pueblo, highlighted by a win over (RV) Minnesota Duluth. Senior outside hitter Alina Nunez and sophomore libero Alyx Daugherty were named to the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of play.
 

Fort Lewis earned wins over Minnesota Duluth (3-1), Adelphi (3-0), Florida Tech (3-1), and CSU Pueblo (3-1). The Skyhawks head into Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play with a 5-3 overall record.
 

Around the RMAC

The league has three teams ranked or receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, led by MSU Denver at No. 18. The Roadrunners have fallen in the rankings after coming in at No. 7 last week. Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa continue to receive votes.
 

Mines leads the conference with a 7-1 record, followed by Colorado Mesa and South Dakota Mines at 6-2. Chadron State and Fort Lewis round out the top five with 5-3 marks.
 

Among the RMAC's 15 teams, Fort Lewis ranks in the following statistical categories:

• 4th – Opponent Kills (12.04/set)

• 4th – Service Aces (1.86/set)

• 4th – Digs (14.64/set)

• 7th – Assists (10.82/set)

• 8th – Hitting Percentage (.184)

• 15th – Blocks (1.11/set)
   

Nunez and Daugherty Honored

Following standout performances at the Royce Cappis Invitational, Nunez and Daugherty were named RMAC Players of the Week, announced by the league on Monday. Nunez earned RMAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Daugherty was selected as the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week.
 

Nunez put together an impressive four-match stretch, totaling 52 kills across 15 sets while hitting .381. The senior averaged 3.47 kills per set and added 35 digs, five blocks, three service aces, and three assists to finish the weekend with 57.5 points.
 

Defensively, Daugherty continued to establish herself as one of the league's premier liberos. The sophomore totaled 72 digs across 15 sets for an average of 4.80 digs per set while adding eight service aces and 15 assists.
 

Scouting Black Hills State

The Yellow Jackets enter conference play with a 4-4 record after spending their nonconference slate in the Midwest. Black Hills State earned wins over MSU Billings, Western New Mexico, UMary, and Upper Iowa across two tournaments. The Yellow Jackets finished last season 6-20 overall and 2-12 in conference play.
 

As a team, Black Hills State is hitting .232 while allowing opponents to hit .254. The Yellow Jackets average 11.5 digs and 1.2 blocks per set. Black Hills State has hit above .300 twice this season, including a .452 mark in a three-set win over UMary.
 

Izzy Saiki leads a trio of players averaging more than two kills per set, putting away 2.87 kills per set while hitting .236. Zoie Husman follows at 2.67 kills per set, while Carsyn Mettler adds 2.57. Elena Atkinson and Emma Kruger share setting duties and combine for more than nine assists per set. Defensively, Keira Thompson leads the squad with 3.57 digs per set.
 

Fort Lewis claimed a 3-0 win over Black Hills State last season, extending its winning streak in the series to five matches. Daugherty finished with 17 digs, followed by 11 from Cambria Freymuth.

Scouting South Dakota Mines

The Hardrockers enter the week at 6-2 overall with a 3-1 mark at home. South Dakota Mines has swept four opponents, including Chadron State and UCCS. Last season, the Hardrockers finished 10-16 overall and 7-7 in RMAC play.
 

South Dakota Mines has paired an efficient offense with stout defense, hitting .263 while holding opponents to a .171 mark. The Hardrockers average 2.1 blocks and 14.6 digs per set. They have hit above .300 three times this season, while both losses have come when hitting .217 or lower.
 

Lexi Glendenning returns as an All-Conference performer on the pin and currently averages 3.38 kills per set while hitting .339. Cate Warren follows with 3.11 kills per set on .268 hitting. Maria Bouman has been the team's most efficient option, hitting .380 while averaging 2.13 kills per set. Emily Henderson and Hannah Joseph split time at setter and combine to average 10.5 assists per set. At the net, Grace Mak leads the way with 1.04 blocks per set, followed by Bouman at 0.93.
 

Fort Lewis has dropped four of the last five meetings between the teams, including a five-set heartbreaker in Whalen Gymnasium last season. The Skyhawks' most recent win in the series came in Rapid City in 2023.
 

Inside the Numbers

Fort Lewis has found success this season when its offense reaches the .160 mark and when the defense holds opponents below .220 hitting. Blocking remains an area to watch, with the Skyhawks averaging 1.11 blocks per set, but the back-row defense has helped extend rallies with 14.64 digs per set.
 

Nunez has led the way offensively, carrying a significant role on the pin with 2.86 kills per set across 221 attempts. Senior Jordan DeJesus follows with 2.61 kills per set while hitting .138. Sophomore Caroline Munson enjoyed a strong weekend in Pueblo, raising her season average to nearly two kills per set while hitting .321. Daugherty anchors the defense with 4.75 digs per set and has also been a threat from the service line.
 

Up Next

Fort Lewis makes its home debut next week with a Friday-Saturday split against Chadron State and Regis University.