Air Force Academy
BYU
Falcons Drop Three-Set Road Contest to BYU
10/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 14, 2010
PROVO, Utah - Despite several individual players leading several statistical categories, the Air Force volleyball team dropped a three-set conference match to BYU on Thursday, Oct. 14, in Provo, Utah. After allowing the Cougars to jump out to early leads in the first two sets (25-17, 25-15), the Falcons rebounded with a strong third set but ultimately fell by a 25-22 score.
"We're still learning to compete," head coach Matt McShane said. "We have to learn how to make plays at the end. We're going to win our first (MWC) match very soon. We are working hard and getting better. Soon, we are going to win."
It was all BYU to start the match, as the Cougars took an early 10-2 lead. With a kill, senior Caroline Kurtz posted the first offensive point for the Falcons. Trailing 14-3, the Falcons scored the next four points, including another kill by Kurtz and a service ace by fellow senior Jessica Hellmann. The two squads traded the next few points, with Air Force collecting points from Kurtz, freshman Annalyse Schmitt and senior Nichole Stilwell. Schmitt and Kurtz claimed another pair of kills, as the Falcons cut their deficit to five (19-14) and forced BYU into a timeout. Seniors Emily Frick and Julia Hansen added kills, but the Falcons dropped the set by a 25-17 margin.
The Cougars scored five of the first six points to start the second set, with freshman Utah native Cami Richan claiming the Falcon's lone point on a kill. Kurtz and Stilwell tallied kills for Air Force, but BYU scored six straight points to increase its lead to 12-4. The Falcons earned kills from Kurtz and Hansen, while Richan contributed to a point when the Cougars couldn't control her attack. Stilwell added a pair of kills to put the Falcons over the 10-point mark. Highlighted by a kill from Hellmann, Air Force scored three of the next four points. A kill by Richan held the Cougars at set-point, but BYU ultimately claimed the 25-15 victory.
A service ace by Hellmann opened the third game, while a kill by Richan helped Air Force to a 3-2 lead. The two squads traded points, but Schmitt tallied a kill to put the Falcons up 4-3 and Stilwell later helped tie the score at five. The Falcons capitalized on several BYU errors to increase its lead to 10-7. Coming out of a BYU timeout, Schmitt bookended a Kurtz kill with a pair of service aces. Stilwell added another kill, but BYU scored seven of the next nine points to cut the Falcons' lead to two (16-14). Hellmann stuffed back an opponent attack, Stilwell accounted for three straight kills and Kurtz added one, as the Falcons held onto a 22-20 lead. Unfortunately, the Cougars scored the final five points to secure the sweep by a 25-22 score.
Stilwell and Kurt led all players with nine kills each, as the pair accounted for 18 of the squad's 28 total kills. Stilwell, one of two Falcons to hit in positive figures, led the squad with a .227 average, as she connected on nine of 22 attempts, while committing just four errors. Stilwell teamed up with Schmitt for the squad's lone block. Schmitt and Hellmann paced the Falcons with two service aces apiece. Hellmann also tied for the match-high in assists with 15, while senior Kelly Spencer recorded a team-high 10 digs.
"Nichole hit very well tonight," McShane continued. "Not only did she lead us in blocks and hits, she also got five digs."
Air Force closes out the road trip on Saturday (Oct. 16) afternoon, when it faces Utah in Salt Lake City.
