Air Force Academy
BYU
Air Force Drops Straight Set Match to BYU
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2009
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Despite a solid showing in the second set, the Air Force volleyball team lost a straight set match to BYU on Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Academy. After falling 25-11 in the first set, the Falcons responded to take the Cougars to extra points in a 26-24 loss. Air Force closed out the night with a 25-16 loss in the final set.
A highlight of the night for the Falcons was five combined service aces, including a pair of scores by freshman Maiya Perich. Perich has amassed 28 on the season, and is tied with junior Caroline Kurtz for the team lead in that category. The five aces were tied for the most in a conference match since the team accumulated six at New Mexico on Oct. 3.
A pair of kills by freshman Grace Konstanzer gave the Falcons an early 2-1 lead, but BYU responded with 12 of the next 13 points to take a 13-3 advantage. Air Force received back-to-back kills from Kurtz and junior Nichole Stilwell, while Perich's first ace of the night put the Falcons at the 10-point mark. The Falcons added another point off of a BYU serving error, but ultimately lost 25-11.
Perich's second ace and a kill from junior Emily Frick helped the Falcons to a 4-2 lead to start the second set. BYU took the advantage with a 5-1 run, but senior Michelle Harrington added a kill and service ace to even the set at seven. The two teams continued to trade points, matching the next four scores. Air Force bumped its advantage to 13-11 off of an ace by junior Kelly Spencer and another kill from Frick, but the Cougars responded once again to take a 19-17 lead. Air Force tied the set at 19 off of Kurtz's ace and evened the mark at 20 off of a kill by classmate Julia Hansen. A kill from Harrington tied the set at 21, but BYU returned with the next two points. Harrington recorded back-to-back strikes and a BYU attacking error gave the Falcons a 24-23 lead. BYU ultimately scored the final three points to secure the hard-fought 26-24 win.
BYU raced out to a 4-1 lead to start the final frame and quickly doubled the Falcons at 12-6. Harrington recorded a solo stop and teamed up with Stilwell and Kurtz for several more kills, but Air Force couldn't close the gap and fell by a 25-16 score.
Harrington led the Falcons with nine kills, a .238 hitting percentage and two blocks. Kurtz, the team's defensive leader with 10 digs, added six kills, while Stilwell accounted for five. That trio combined for 20 of the Falcons' 25 kills.
Air Force closes out the 2009 season on Saturday, Nov. 21, when it hosts Utah at 1 p.m., at Clune Arena. Prior to the match, the Falcons will honor their two seniors - Harrington and manager Nicole Hartig.
