The Fort Lewis College volleyball team were beaten in both matches over the weekend in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play in Utah, getting swept by Dixie State in three sets on Friday, 25-20, 26-24 and 25-21. Saturday’s results were not much better, falling in four sets, 25-18, 27-25 25-21 and 25-21. The Skyhawks (1-9, 1-5 RMAC) won one set in a tough weekend.
On Friday in St. George, Dixie State (10-2, 5-0 RMAC) got off to an 8-6 lead before the Skyhawks won four consecutive points and led 12-8. The remainder of the set was close, until the Trailblazers went on runs of 4-0 and 3-0 to take the first set 25-20.
In the second set, FLC were one point away from a set victory at 24-23, until Dixie State won the next three points to snatch the set away from the Skyhawks.
The Skyhawks continued to battle in the final set, but Dixie State overcame a late-set deficit, again, tied at 21, until the Trailblazers won the final four points of the match to win 25-21.
Megan Treanor led the Trailblazers in kills with 12, while Haley Christiansen and Tye Wedhorn had 11 kills for the Skyhawks.
Saturday’s match in Salt Lake City was another tough conference test for Fort Lewis, falling in four sets to Westminster (5-9, 3-3 RMAC) In the first set, the Griffins were able to pull away late for a 25-18 victory. However, the Skyhawks were able to match the tone of Westminster’s first set, by taking the second in an extra-point thriller, 27-25.
In the third and fourth sets, the Griffins were able to hold off late runs from the Skyhawks, winning 25-21 in each game.
Audrey Green and Sydnee Simmons paced the Griffins with 17 kills, while Haley Christiansen kept the Skyhawks in it with 12. Westminster dominated the assist category as Agatha Roese-Olsen had 47 assists compared to just 22 from Kendra Swackenberg.
After the four-match road trip, the Skyhawks will finally return to Whalen Gymnasium when they will take on New Mexico Highlands (5-9 3-3 RMAC)at 7 p.m. on Friday.
bploen@durangoherald.com
