Air Force Academy
TCU
Air Force Falls to Frogs in Straight Sets
10/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 1, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas - The Air Force volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to TCU in Mountain West Conference action on Thursday, Oct. 1, in Fort Worth, Texas. The Falcons recorded a .186 hitting percentage, their best of the young conference season, as the Frogs took the match by 25-23, 25-10, 25-18 scores. The loss dropped the Falcons to 8-8 on the season, while TCU improved to 14-4.
Backed by three kills from junior Nichole Stilwell, the Falcons pulled out to an early 6-5 advantage. The Frogs tied it at six and in a series reminiscent of last year, quickly doubled up the Falcons to a 12-6 mark. Senior Michelle Harrington and junior Emily Frick teamed up for a block that stopped the run, while Harrington and junior Caroline Kurtz each added a pair of kills to bring Air Force within five (17-12). Trailing 19-12, Air Force collected the next four points, thanks to a pair of kills from freshman Grace Konstanzer and another block from Harrington and Frick. Trailing 23-19, Air Force went on another run, as Kurtz, Stilwell and junior Jessica Hellmann recorded kills. Junior Kelly Spencer added a service ace to pull the squad within one (23-22), but TCU survived the Falcons' furious rally to take the first set 25-23.
The Frogs scored first in the second set and raced out to a 14-4 lead. TCU maintained the lead throughout the set, despite three kills from Stilwell and two from Kurtz. Freshman Preslee Maki recorded her first collegiate kill to put the Falcons in double digits, as Air Force lost 25-10.
TCU jumped out to a 9-1 advantage to start the final set. Kurtz added a pair of kills and added an ace as the Falcons climbed back into the set. Stilwell and Maki teamed up for a block to pull the score within three at 12-9. Kurtz, Stilwell and Konstanzer added kills and freshman Maiya Perich recorded a service ace, but the Frogs regained a sizable advantage en route to the 25-18 win.
Kurtz led the Falcons with 11 kills, while Stilwell, who hit a team-best .526, tallied 10 kills on 19 attempts with no errors. Kurtz and Spencer tied for the team lead with six digs, while Harrington and Frick paced the squad with two blocks each. Hellmann recorded 17 assists, while freshman Dani Griffith added eight.
Air Force remains on the road, as it travels to Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday, Oct. 3, for a 1 p.m., showdown with New Mexico.
