Going into Bayfield’s 2025 volleyball season, head coach Terene Foutz knew she had much front-row talent available, though she hadn’t quite determined how best to blend all of it.
But when it came to BHS’ back row, she knew senior Lauren Rich would provide consistency and help the Wolverines keep hitters busy in her third year as libero.
Which the Wolverines did; Rich racked up more than 400 digs to lead Bayfield and help it improve from 16-11 overall (5-3 Intermountain League) in 2024 to 19-9 (6-2 IML), while both seasons advancing to the 12-team CHSAA 3A state championships.
Folks took notice, and when a recruited Rich considered where to continue her student-athlete career, her decision was ultimately as easily made as it was for Foutz to write her into BHS’ starting lineup. Rich announced in a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon that she would be studying and playing volleyball at Fort Lewis College in Durango.
Rich is excited to play close to home so her family and friends can come to watch. She’s studied the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, so she knows all the players and teams.
“I was looking at a few different schools, and Fort Lewis was … just something I’ve always wanted,” Rich said. My dad went to school there, and we grew up watching the games and stuff, so when I went and practiced with the girls, they were so welcoming; it just was a program I felt like I could see myself in.”
Having ably succeeded college-caliber predecessors Lana McKee (Northeastern Junior College ’20-21) and Myrah Abdallah-Boehm (Trinidad State College ’23-24) at Bayfield, Rich should only help enrich FLC’s defensive corps.
Fort Lewis went 14-12 overall in 2025, including an 8-6 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, under head coach Justin Long.
But after a five-set road win at New Mexico Highlands in late October, the Skyhawks’ season abruptly ended after seven consecutive losses – including a five-setter against UC-Colorado Springs on senior day, then another the following Friday at Colorado Christian University, plus a season-ending four-set loss to UCCS in the RMAC Tournament quarterfinals.
In that match, libero/defensive specialist Alyx Daugherty racked up 29 digs, giving her a FLC-most 424 (in the previous clash with UCCS, Daugherty had equaled the Fort’s school-record 40) and voters cause to later afford the freshman second-team All-RMAC recognition.
“That’s definitely going to be my main position for the Skyhawks: Defense,” Rich said with a laugh. “Can’t do much in the front row. But I’m excited; my freshman year, Myrah pushed me really hard, trained me well, so it’s nice that tradition kind of carries on.”
Rich appreciates how straightforward the Skyhawk coaching staff is. It reminds her of Foutz’s approach at Bayfield.
“Today’s been a long time in the making,” Foutz said during the ceremony. “It’s been an incredible four years with Lauren, and as you all know, I get emotional because it’s hard to let kids go. In Lauren’s case, the long days and long practice nights, working so hard beyond … and asking to come in on her own, getting a million reps, those are some of the most precious moments of my life.”
“I know that Coach Wong would not have selected you, had he not known these things,” she said. “You’re about to make your mark and … after all of this you’re ready to fly because, after all, you’re now a Skyhawk!”
Having played in the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports All-State Volleyball Games and invited to play in this summer’s Colorado High School Coaches Association’s All-State Games, the daughter of Matthew (a 2003 FLC graduate) and Jennifer Rich expressed interest in pursuing biochemistry as her major at FLC after working at Bayfield Pharmacy for the past three years.
