Air Force Academy
TCU
Air Force Falls to TCU in Conference Action
10/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 2, 2010
FORT WORTH, Texas - Despite six service aces and a combined 25 kills from seniors Nicole Stilwell and Caroline Kurtz, the Air Force volleyball team dropped a three-set Mountain West Conference match to TCU on Saturday (Oct. 2) afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas. The Falcons fell in consecutive 25-21, 25-18, 25-17 sets to the host Horned Frogs.
Combining for four points, Kurtz and sophomore Preslee Maki helped Air Force roll out to an early 5-2 advantage at the start of the first set. Kurtz recorded a kill and service ace, while Maki put down a kill and assisted on a block with freshman Cami Richan. TCU scored seven of the next nine points to take a 7-9 lead, but the Falcons retook the lead at 11-9 behind a kill from Stilwell, a service ace from sophomore Maiya Perich and an assisted block from Richan and classmate Annalyse Schmitt. TCU regained the lead, but Air Force stayed close behind kills from Kurtz (12-12), Richan (13-13), Schmitt (18-16) and Stilwell (18-17). The Horned Frogs increased their lead to 22-17, but Air Force held them to just one point while pulling the score to three (23-20). Kurtz added a pair of kills and Schmitt claimed one during that run. Kurtz added one more kill, but the Falcons fell by a close 25-21 margin.
TCU scored the first five points of the second set, en route to a 7-1 lead. Richan and freshman Josalynn Wise stopped the Frogs' scoring streak with a kill and an ace, respectively. Kurtz collected another kill, but the Falcons continued to trail 13-4. Stilwell claimed three of the Falcons' next four points, while Perich claimed her second ace of the set to bring the score to 15-9. Kurtz (kill) and Schmitt (ace) added points from the Falcons, but TCU extended its lead to 20-11. Kurtz collected a kill and service ace, while Stilwell and Schmitt each tallied one. Senior Julia Hansen posted a pair of kills, but the Falcons fell 25-18.
Kurtz and Schmitt combined for the Falcons' first seven kills to start the third set, although Air Force found itself down 14-10. Kurtz collected five and Schmitt added two, while a trio of errors by the Horned Frogs contributed to opening score. TCU scored five straight points to increase its lead to 19-10, before Kurtz stopped the run with a kill. Stilwell scored three straight kills, before the Falcons ultimately fell 25-17.
Kurtz paced all players with 15 kills, while Stilwell added 10. Connecting on 10 of 15 attempts, while committing just two errors, Stilwell owned a match-best .533 hitting percentage. Senior Jessica Hellmann accounted for 14 assists, while Wise added 13. Kurtz and Perich paced the team with two service aces, while Richan earned a team-high two blocks (both assisted). Senior Kelly Spencer tied for the match lead with 11 digs.
After playing the last 13 matches on the road, the Falcons return to the Academy for a pair of conference matches next week. Air Force will host No. 18 Colorado State on Thursday, Oct. 7, before taking on Wyoming on Saturday, Oct. 9.
