Air Force Academy
Marist
Air Force Pulls Out Dramatic Five-Game Win
9/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2007
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Air Force volleyball team pulled out a dramatic five-game victory over Marist in its final game of the Volley in the Valley Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 1. Strong attacking benefited the Falcons, who tallied a .303 hitting percentage to take the 31-29, 20-30, 29-31, 30-18, 15-10 win over the Red Foxes in Poughkeepsie.
Sophomore Katie Batchelder was just one kill shy of the 30-kill plateau, putting down 29 on 51 attempts (with just five errors) for a match-best .471 hitting percentage. In addition to two service aces, she added 18 digs for her first double-double of the season.
Batchelder was one of three Falcons to tally double-digit kill totals. Freshman Caroline Kurtz added 19, while sophomore Michelle Harrington put down 10. Both Kurtz and Harrington registered impressive attacking totals. Kurtz hit .455, while Harrington accounted for a .412 average.
Senior Rebecca Gerton led the field with 25 digs, while junior Jasamine Pettie and freshman Nichole Stilwell teamed up for three blocks apiece. Senior Kim Kallabis and freshman Stephanie Stanford split time at the setter position, recording respective totals of 41 and 20.
Air Force battled with Marist throughout the first set, taking the final score to extra points and the 31-29 victory. Marist evened the score up in the second game (20-30) and took the game advantage in the third set (29-31). Air Force regrouped once again and pulled out a dominating 30-18 win in the fourth game, before earning the deciding 15-10 win in the fifth and final set.
For the match, Air Force accounted for a .303 hitting percentage, which was highlighted by a .577 advantage in the fourth set. During that game, the Falcons connected on 18 of 26 attempts while committing just three errors. Air Force also added a .474 outing in the fifth game (11 kills-2 errors-19 attempts) and a .364 showing in the second set (16 kills-4 errors-33 attempts).
With their fourth victory in the first six matches, the Falcons have already surpassed their win total from the 2006 season.
The Falcons head back out on the road next weekend (Sept. 7-8) for the Gardner Webb Runnin' Bulldog Tournament in Boiling Springs, N.C. Air Force will face North Carolina A&T, Davidson and Gardner Webb during the two-day tournament.
