Air Force Academy
Wyoming
Air Force Drops 3-0 Decision to Wyoming
11/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 8, 2009
LARAMIE, Wyo. - In its final road contest of the season, the Air Force volleyball team lost a 3-0 decision to Wyoming on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Laramie, Wyo. The Falcons dropped the first two sets by close 25-20 and 25-22 decisions, before finalizing the match with a 25-12 loss.
Junior Caroline Kurtz led the Falcons with seven kills, a .182 hitting percentage and two service aces, while classmate Jessica Hellmann contributed 16 of the team's 24 assists. Defensively, fellow junior Julia Hansen and senior Michelle Harrington paced the Falcons with five assisted blocks each, while freshman Maiya Perich collected seven digs.
As a team, the Falcons hit above .200 in each of the first two matches, including a .259 (12 kills-five errors-27 attempts) during the second set.
Kurtz posted a pair of back-to-back service aces to open the match, but Wyoming took a 5-3 advantage. Hellmann dumped a ball over the net to tie the set at five. Air Force remained close, behind kills from Kurtz and Harrington. Harrington put down an ace to tie the set at 11, but the Cowgirls jumped out to a 17-12 advantage. The Falcons received kills from Stilwell, Kurtz, Hansen and classmate Emily Frick, but Wyoming took the set by a 25-20 margin.
The Cowgirls took an 11-6 lead to start the second set, but Air Force quickly pulled within two (12-10) behind kills by Kurtz and Stilwell, as well as a pair of blocks. Freshman Grace Konstanzer added a pair of kills to help the Falcons tie the set at 15. Kurtz tied the set again at 16 and a kill from Stilwell gave the Falcons the first lead of the set. Kurtz and Stilwell each tallied a kill, while Harrington and Hansen combined for a pair of blocks, but fell by a narrow three-point margin.
The third set was all Wyoming, as the Cowgirls rolled out to an 8-2 lead. Kurtz and freshman Julianne Haun added kills, but Wyoming increased its advantage to 20-7. Hellmann tallied another kill, while Stilwell's kill put the Falcons at the 10-point mark. Hansen teamed up with Stilwell for a pair of blocks, but Air Force fell by a 25-12 decision.
Air Force returns to the Academy for its final three matches of the 2009 season. The Falcons open the three-match homestand on Friday, Nov. 13, when they host San Diego State in an early 5 p.m., match.
