Air Force Academy
Northern Arizona
Falcons Fall to Undefeated Northern Arizona
9/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2011
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Northern Arizona during its final match of the Falcon Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Academy. The Falcons (3-7) fell in straight 25-20, 25-18, 25-17 sets to the visiting Lumberjacks, who improved their record to 9-0.
Freshman Ayesha Hein paced the field with 10 kills, as freshmen combined for 24 of the team's 35 kills. Megan Clary posted a career-best six kills, while Kristen Holt and Hillary Keltner added personal-best totals of five and three, respectively. Sophomores Cami Richan (seven) and Claire Bieber (four) accounted for the rest of the Falcons' kills.
Holt put down five of her 12 attempts, with no errors, to hit at a .417 clip. Keltner, who assisted on 29 kills, added a .429 hitting percentage to the mix, connecting on three of seven attempts with no errors.
"Kristen was really lighting it up tonight," head coach Matt McShane said. "I'm very encouraged. Different people are stepping up. Everyone is still learning, but I think that we're ahead of where we expected to be. I think where we are now is where we thought we'd be in October. So, I'm pleased at where we are right now."
Defensively, junior Maiya Perich led the match with 17 digs, while Hein recorded three total blocks (all assisted).
Air Force returns to action next weekend (Sept. 16-17) for its final tournament of the non-conference season. The Falcons will travel to Davis, Calif., to face Seattle, UC Davis and Hofstra at the Aggie Invitational. Action begins for Air Force at 4:30 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 16, against Seattle.
