There is a buzz in the air as students return to campus and home events loom on the horizon. The Fort Lewis College volleyball team has been hard at work this preseason and will open the 2022 season Aug. 26 at the Western New Mexico Tournament with a deep, energetic roster that looks to push the limits for the Skyhawks this fall.

“I cannot wait to compete and show our fans this team’s fighting spirit,” said head coach Giedre Tarnauskaite. “There is a sense of confidence in the air that you can feel as soon as you step foot into our gym. We start on the road with two preseason tournaments that will give us opportunities to test some lineups before the conference starts. We open our conference season with another road trip, so the two tournaments should help us to get ready to compete.”

Fort Lewis will play an 18-match Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule.

After going 6-12 in the league last year, FLC was predicted to finish 11th in the RMAC this season, according to the league’s preseason poll.

Sophomores Alexis Hobie and Natalia Lambos were both selected as players to watch in the league.

Hobie is a threat at the pin, but can attack from all areas of the court as a six-rotation player. Her calming presence on the court can only be described as unique for a young player taking on such a large role, but the Oregon native’s knack for terminating in big moments earned the righty slugger respect from some of the top defenses in the country.

Lambos saw time at both setter and right-side hitter last season, proving to be a valuable and versatile piece of the puzzle as a true freshman. Her fluid approach to the game was displayed with a sort of elegance that could entertain even the most novice of fans.

The Skyhawks, however, battled injuries throughout the year, losing five players to season-ending injuries. The adversity forced players to fill in the gaps at positions that may not have been their natural homes, but the attitude of the group never wavered.

“Last season, we were battling a lot of injuries, so I am extremely happy to have our returners healthy and back on the court. I could not wish for a more dedicated group of players, and we set the expectations high while training in the offseason,” Tarnauskaite said. “We were intentional and relentless not only on the court, but in the weight room, and now that we are on the court the improvement is evident. Returners have created the culture of relentlessness and taking pride in the details, which helps the newcomers to learn how to prepare to compete in one of the most competitive conferences in the nation.”

Hobie remains the team’s most opposing force on the offensive front.

Chay Swenson was clutch in the 2021 season, stepping into the role of outside hitter after an injury left a void to fill. Swenson ranked second in the team with 157 kills and racked up double-digit kills on seven occasions.

Lambos returns as an offensive option but will likely spend her time at setter.

Kamryn Lopez is set to return at libero in her senior season. Lopez came away with 307 digs and received serves at a .954 clip in 438 attempts last year.

Joviana Romero returns for her senior season after totaling 133 digs last season.

Rylee Johnson, Korrina Pace and Sarah Wilkey are also back after sustaining injuries last season.

Four transfer players will join a freshman duo to round out the team’s roster at 15 players.

“We added a lot of talent to our roster. We have a good mix of freshmen and transfer players from various backgrounds,” Tarnauskaite said. “Each player was carefully selected in order to strengthen our current roster. I expect a lot of improvement offensively since five of our seven recruits are hitters.”

Lauren Shea will see time on the right side after playing two seasons at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.

Melanie Smith, a transfer from the University of Bridgeport, will add options on the outside.

Ruthie Ridderhoff (Assumption University) and Jade Martinez (New Mexico Highlands) also transferred to the Skyhawks.

“RMAC is a tough conference, so we are preparing to fight for every win,” Tarnauskaite said. “Last year, we did well when we had a home court advantage. This year, we want to have the same advantage when competing on the road. To me, that means owning our style of play. We strive to be a team that doesn't sit back and wait for opportunities to happen, we will create them ourselves. We have multiple weapons that we can use to put a lot of pressure on our opponents, and I think we will be a tough team to beat.”