COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs volleyball team snapped a three-match losing streak on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Fort Lewis College in their last match of this weekend's RMAC Power Pod.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

• Final Score: W, 3-1 (25-19, 28-30, 25-18, 25-21)
•  Records: UCCS (10-12, 4-6 RMAC) | FLC (9-14, 5-6 RMAC)
•  Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
• All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions and Skyhawks have matched up 56 times since 1989, with UCCS now boasting a record of 30-26 over FLC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Skyhawks came out in control in the final match of the RMAC Power Pod, gaining a 13-9 lead out of the gate. UCCS tightened things up and would explode to a 10-1 run later with the help of kills from Avery Ahlers and Emily Pruitt to take a commanding 23-17 lead. Another Pruitt kill and an FLC attack error capped set one with the Mountain Lions on top 25-19. UCCS' defense held the Skyhawks to a .026 hit percentage in set one.
• Set two saw the Mountain Lions jump to a 14-10 lead, taking advantage of multiple attack errors from FLC. The Skyhawks kept themselves within arm's reach, but UCCS would take a 23-19 lead and two points from a 2-0 advantage. The tide then turned in FLC's favor, going on a 5-1 run to even things at 24. The two teams traded points, and the Mountain Lions took a 28-27 lead, but they needed one more point to come out on top. A UCCS attack error gave leeway to the Skyhawks, who tallied the following two points on a kill and attack error, evening the sets at one apiece.
• Payton Tompkins started the scoring for the Mountain Lions in set three, smoking the ball off an assist from Audrey Dowd. UCCS responded to the rough finish in set two with a 9-5 lead. Services aces from Pruitt, Syndee Walker, and Tompkins sparked the Mountain Lions, with the three combining for five aces in the set. UCCS efficiently handled set three, winning 25-18 and taking a 2-1 advantage in the match.
• The Skyhawks fought hard in set four, giving UCCS a hill to climb with an early 7-1 advantage. The Mountain Lions responded to the run, but FLC would still have a five-point (13-8) edge. UCCS would find their rhythm, blasting to a 7-1 run and taking a 15-14 lead. The set would see a handful of ties moments later. Still, the Mountain Lions created a significant gap from their counterparts, going on a 5-0 run and taking a 22-17 lead. UCCS had no issues from there, and Tompkins would cap off the match with a kill, winning set four 25-21.

MATCH STATISTICS

• Outside hitters Tompkins and Pruitt guided the way in Saturday afternoon win, collecting 19 and 15 kills, respectively. Tompkins and Pruitt were also the points leaders on the day, with Tompkins tallying 22.5 and Pruitt obtaining 19. The two Mountain Lions also garnered two service aces each.
• Dowd was everywhere on the court today, setting teammates up for clean paths to a kill. Dowd corralled 48 assists with nine digs and a kill on the day.
• Rylee Pitts put together a nice performance today with 11.5 points, nine kills, six digs, and two service aces.
• The Mountain Lions bested the Skyhawks in points (103-88), kills (58-44), hitting percentage (.122-.071), assists (55-38), service aces (7-2), and digs (86-73). The most significant factor that kept FLC in the competition was their size advantage, collecting 18 blocks to UCCS' six.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Today's 58 kills from the Mountain Lions marks the second most for them in a four-set match this season, just below their win over New Mexico Highlands University on Sept. 27, where they had 61. UCCS' 55 assists also mark the second most behind that match versus NMHU, where they assisted teammates 56 times in four sets.
• The Mountain Lion's 86 digs today are the most they've tallied in four sets this year.
• Tompkins' 22.5 points and Dowd's 48 assists rank as the most from any Mountain Lions this season in a four-set match.
• Ahlers' nine kills, Dowd's 48 assists, and Avrey Keim's three kills today rank as career highs in those respective categories for these three Mountain Lions.

UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions are back home on Friday, Nov. 8, for a matchup against the No. 1 ranked Metro State Roadrunners. The first serve is set for a 7 p.m. start at the Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

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For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to gomountainlions.com. As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.