GUNNISON, Colo. Host Western Colorado owned a lead over Fort Lewis College until late in the first set, but the visiting Skyhawks would rally for the set win and would go on to capture the next two sets in a 3-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference volleyball win over the Mountaineers Tuesday evening.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Fort Lewis def. Western, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-16)
Records: Western 3-14 overall (1-6 RMAC), Fort Lewis 8-9 (5-4)
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountaineers came out strong, leading from the first point of the first set and later building an 18-12 advantage over the Skyhawks.
- A 6-0 Fort Lewis run erased that cushion, but Western edged back in front at 21-20 on a Fort Lewis setting error. The lead was short-lived, though, as the Skyhawks took five of the next seven points to steal the set and build momentum.
- The teams played through five tie scores in the early going of the second set, until Fort Lewis scored three consecutive points to break away from a 7-7 knot.
- Fort Lewis was only able to extend its cushion to a maximum of four points through the middle of the set, and Western pulled back to within one, 17-16, behind a Miya Alvarado kill, a Nur Turkmenoglu second touch kill, and another Skyhawk setting error.
- A 7-1 spurt elevated Fort Lewis to match point only to have the Mountaineers start a rally of their own. Maggie Olson knocked down a kill for the first point, Fort Lewis handed over another point on an attacking error, then Olson and Kennedy Kelly teamed up for a block to fight off a third set point. The rally was halted at 24-20, however, as the Skyhawks finally notched the set point to make the match score 2-0 in their favor.
- Trying to push back into the match, Western took a 6-5 lead in the third set, breaking a 5-5 tie on a kill from Seyun Park. That would be the final lead of the night for the Mountaineers as Fort Lewis took back the advantage and would eventually close out the set, and match, with nine-point win.
NET NOTES
- Western posted a .275 attack percentage in the opening set, but couldn't maintain that pace, finishing the night with a cumulative figure of .144.
- Olson and Kennedy led the Mountaineers' attack. Olson finished with 10 kills and Kennedy added 9.
- Kennedy would also contribute a service ace and a pair of block assists for an 11-point evening.
- Alvarado and Park would each earn a solo block on the night.
UP NEXT
- The Mountaineers host New Mexico Highlands University on Sunday night at 5 p.m. in another RMAC bout.
- The night's theme is a Hawaiian Beach Party.
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