Air Force Academy
BYU
Offensive Woes Plague Falcons in Loss to BYU
9/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2009
PROVO, Utah - The Air Force volleyball team suffered a three-set loss to BYU in Mountain West Conference action on Saturday, Sept. 19, in Provo, Utah. Offensive woes plagued the Falcons, who amassed 29 errors over the three sets, fell in consecutive 25-12, 25-23, 25-11 sets. Air Force moved to 8-6 on the season, while BYU evened their record at 6-6.
BYU scored first, but Air Force took a 6-4 advantage, behind kills from juniors Caroline Kurtz and Nichole Stilwell, as well as a block by senior Michelle Harrington and junior Julia Hansen. The Cougars scored the next five points, but junior Caroline Kurtz stopped their scoring with a kill. Harrington and freshman Grace Konstanzer brought the Falcons to within three (13-10), but BYU used a 12-2 run to take the first set by a 25-12 margin.
Air Force fell into an early 4-1 deficit to start the second set, but a kill by junior Emily Frick helped the Falcons pull within one (4-3). BYU doubled up the Falcons at 10-5, but Air Force continued to put down points. Harrington added a kill, but the Cougars upped their advantage to seven (15-8). Air Force started to cut into the BYU lead, as Konstanzer and junior Jessica Hellmann added kills. Kurtz put down a pair of back-to-back kills, as the Falcons evened the score at 18. The two programs traded points until BYU claimed the final two points to secure the 25-23 victory.
In the third set, BYU rolled to the early 9-2 lead. Konstanzer added offense for the Falcons, putting down three kills, as the Cougars doubled up the Falcons at 16-8. Stilwell recorded a solo stop and added a kill, while a kill by Harrington put the Falcons in double-digits. BYU used an 8-1 run to finalize the 25-11 victory.
Kurtz and Konstanzer paced the Falcons with six kills apiece, while Konstanzer led the Falcons with a .188 hitting percentage. Kurtz also led the Falcons with 11 digs, while Hellmann recorded 17 assists. Stilwell posted a solo stop, while Harrington and Hansen teamed up for the squad's lone assisted stop.
After 14 straight road matches to open the season, the Falcons finally come home on Thursday, Sept. 24. Air Force will host Mountain West Conference foe, UNLV, at 7 p.m., in Clune Arena.
