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FLC volleyball reaches postseason after electrifying win

Lambos named RMAC setter of the week
Natalia Lambos of Fort Lewis College sets the ball while playing Adams State University Friday at FLC. Lambos had 96 assists against Adams and the next night against New Mexico Highlands to earn conference setter of the week honors. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Of freshman Ella Butler's 11 kills on Saturday night, her final swing was the grandest. The middle blocker closed out a 31-29 fourth-set thriller with a shot through the block, sending the Fort Lewis College volleyball team to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament with a win over New Mexico Highlands University.

“It is beyond exciting to watch the team compete at the level they did tonight,” said head coach Giedre Tarnauskaite. “The composure that we showed at the end of the match shows our growth and fighting spirit. Each player came through for us at key moments throughout the match.”

FLC won the match 21-25, 25-21, 25-19 and 31-29 to improve to 10-14 overall and 8-10 in the RMAC. The win secures FLC the eighth seed in the RMAC Tournament. Fort Lewis will face the nation's top-ranked team, MSU Denver (25-1, 18-0), on Thursday at the Auraria Event Center in Denver.

Four Skyhawks had double-digit kills against NMHU, led by Alexis Hobie's 15. Senior Rylee Johnson followed with 13 kills, junior Lauren Shea had 13 kills and 12 digs while Butler was the team's most efficient attacker with 11 kills (.556) to go along with three service aces. Sophomore Natalia Lambos dished out 48 assists and came away with a season-high 12 digs. Senior Kamryn Lopez led the team with 19 digs for the match while the Skyhawks finished with 79 total.

Lambos was also named the final RMAC Setter of the Week after the undefeated home weekend, which also included a 3-1 win over Adams State University on Friday. Lambos totaled 96 assists over the weekend, averaging 12.0 assists per set, in the two wins to help FLC reach the postseason.