Falcons Open Conference Season at UNLV
9/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 21, 2010
After nearly a month of non-league play, the Air Force volleyball team opens Mountain West Conference action this weekend with a single match. The Falcons will travel to Las Vegas, Nev., to face travel partner UNLV (3-9) on Friday, Sept. 24. The match will take place at 7 p.m. (PST) at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus. It is the first of four single-match weeks for the Falcons during the MWC season.
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE MATCH
UNLV will have live stats and videostreaming available during the Falcons' match on Friday, Sept. 24.
DUO EARNS ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS
Nichole Stilwell and Caroline Kurtz were named to the all-tournament team of the West Point Challenge, after combining for 91 kills and 23 blocks. Kurtz, who also earned all-tourney team honors at the Falcon Invitational and at the Memphis Invitational, let the team with 47 kills. Stilwell, claiming her first all-tournament selection of the year, added 44 kills while tying for the team-lead with 16 blocks (three solo, 13 assisted).
FALCONS SNAP SKID, DOWN HOFSTRA IN FOUR
Air Force snapped a five-match losing streak by defeating Hofstra in four sets in its final match of the West Point Challenge on Sept. 19. The Falcons won the first set 25-22, before falling by a close 26-24 margin in the second set. Air Force won the final two games, 25-23, 25-21 to claim the four set victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Air Force has now won a three-set match, a four-set match and a five-set match.
IT'S A BLOCK PARTY
Air Force accumulated 65 total blocks during the West Point Challenge, including five solo stops. Nichole Stilwell and Preslee Maki tied for the team lead with 16 blocks apiece. Stilwell accounted for three solo and 13 assisted blocks, while Maki added one solo and 15 assisted stops. In addition, Cami Richan, Julia Hansen and Caroline Kurtz each tallied seven blocks.
MAKI MAGIC
Entering the West Point Challenge, Preslee Maki had recorded seven blocks (one solo, six assisted). Following the tournament at Army, Maki's total increased to 23 (two solo, 21 assisted). From the front line, Maki posted the team lead in blocks against Buffalo (five) and Bryant (six), while sharing part of the lead against Army (two). Her six blocks against the Bulldogs are tied for the second-best single-match output of the season.
RICHAN HAS STELLAR WEEKEND IN STARTING LINE
Cami Richan had a stellar weekend at the West Point Challenge, earning her first start of the season against Bryant. Over the four matches, Richan accounted for 20 kills and a team-best .333 hitting percentage. Richan hit an impressive .538 against Bryant, connecting on eight of 13 attempts while committing just one error. That is the best hitting by any member of the Air Force squad all season. Richan, who recorded her first dig and block of the season over the weekend, finished with four digs and seven assisted blocks.
HITTING 100
Annalyse Schmitt recorded her 100th kill of the season in the Falcons' win over Hofstra on Sept. 19. The kill, which put Air Force up 20-18, came during the fourth and deciding set of the Falcons' 3-1 win.
AROUND THE MOUNTAIN
Caroline Kurtz continues to lead the Mountain West Conference in kills, with a per-game average of 3.61 and is ranked third in points, with a per-set average of 3.93. As a squad, Air Force is ranked third in service aces (1.14 per set) and fifth in opponent hitting percentage (.196).
WHAT'S ON DECK
Air Force will conclude its month-long road trip next week, with trips to New Mexico and TCU. The Falcons will visit the Lobos on Thursday, Sept. 30, in Albuquerque, N.M., before heading to Fort Worth, Texas, to face the Horned Frogs on Saturday, Oct. 2.
