DURANGO, Colo. – Host Fort Lewis College used a commanding .322 to .075 hitting advantage to down visiting Adams State this afternoon in Whalen Gymnasium, despite Natalie Gallegos pacing the Grizzlies in kills, service aces, and blocks.
With the 25-12, 25-13, 22-25, 25-12 decision, ASU drops to 8-17 overall and 5-12 in RMAC action.
The first two sets were all the Skyhawks as the hosts capitalized on 15 Adams State errors while misfiring on just nine attack attempts of their own.
FLC looked to put a quick end to the match in set three after scoring the first two points.
Gallegos, however, notched ASU's first tally of the set on the ensuing Skyhawk serve, before hammering home two kills in a row to turn an 8-7 disadvantage into a 9-8 lead, ASU's first of the frame.
An Aileen Bugas service ace put ASU up two, with two more Gallegos kills and one from Hadleigh Richardson giving the Grizzlies a 13-9 cushion.
FLC clawed back into the frame after a three-point surge before taking an 18-15 lead on consecutive ASU miscues.
A Cindy Garcia hammer and FLC error gave ASU hope, with the Grizzlies catching the Skyhawks on a host's error, and forging ahead on a Haley Isom putaway for a 20-19 lead.
Tied at 20-all, a 4-1 run gave ASU set point at 24-21, and after a Fort Lewis point brought the hosts to within two, Gallegos finished off the set with her last kill of the frame to cut ASU's deficit to two sets to one.
Fort Lewis came out in the fourth on fire, taking an 11-2 lead behind Lauren Shea's stellar serve.
An ensuing Garcia kill stopped the run and spurred a 3-2 run by ASU, only to have FLC reply with a 7-3 run of its own to take control of the set at 20-8.
Three attack errors by the Skyhawks gave ASU hope at 20-11, but the hosts closed on a 5-1 run to take the set, and the eventual match.
Richardson added eight kills and Cora Ellis seven, with Ellis hitting a team-best .389 on 18 swings without an error.
ASU closes the regular season tomorrow afternoon at Western Colorado University, with first serve set for 5 pm.
