Falcons Set to Host Fresno State on Senior Night
11/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Air Force volleyball team closes out its home schedule this week with a single contest at the Academy's Cadet East Gym. The Falcons will host Fresno State on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the only meeting of the season between the two schools. Action is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Match Notes 13: vs Fresno State 
OPPONENT PREVIEW: FRESNO STATE
Fresno State, currently 7-23 on the year and 2-14 in the Mountain West, is coming off of a split weekend in conference play. The Bulldogs, who dropped a 3-0 home decision to Boise State on Thursday, hung on to claim a five-set victory over Utah State on Saturday for their second MW win of the season. Zana Bowens leads Fresno State with 3.01 kills-per-set, an average that is ranked 10th in the conference. This is the only meeting of the year between the two schools and the Bulldogs hold a 6-2 lead in the all-time series with Air Force.
SENIOR SALUTE
Prior to Wednesday's match, the Falcons will recognize the seven senior members of the program, including three managers (Suzanne Baltar, Lizzy Carpenter, Ayesha Hein) and four players (Emma Dridge, Victoria Foster, Kristen Holt, Hillary Keltner).
MAKING A NAME AMONG NATION'S BEST
Hillary Keltner is ranked 13th in the nation with 1,229 assists, according to the Nov. 17 release of NCAA stats. She is also listed 45th in assists-per-set with a 10.88 average, while the team is listed 35th in total assists (1,423).
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
In conference matches, the Falcons are ranked among the Mountain West's top-10 in five statistical categories. Hillary Keltner (assists, third, 10.72), Akokwe Clement (kills, fourth, 3.35; points, fifth, 3.17), Rebecca Bates (digs, ninth, 3.46) and Taylor Parker (hitting, 10th, .323) are all listed in the individual rankings, while the Falcons are ranked fifth in the team standings for both assists (12.25) and hitting (.217).
JUMP AROUND
Three Falcons made significant jumps in the program's DI single-season record book during the Nov. 15 match at Wyoming. With just four blocks separating third and 10th on the program's yearly assisted stops list, Taylor Parker made the biggest jump, as her three blocks moved her from a tie for 10th into a tie for fourth (65). A 15-kill outing bounced Akokwe Clement from sixth to third on the single-season kills list (381), while Hillary Keltner recorded 41 helpers to move from fourth to second on the seasonal assist list.
PUTTING UP THE STOPS
Air Force accounted for a season-best 22 blocks at Wyoming on Nov. 15 - equaling a tally first set against the Cowgirls in mid-October. Raquel Rosas recorded eight blocks to match her career high, while Hillary Keltner set a new personal-best total with five. Taylor Parker and Shelley Spires each added three, while Akokwe Clement (two) and Maggie Sherrill (one) recorded the team's other blocks.
NOW SERVING...
The Falcons recorded a season-high eight aces at Colorado State on Nov. 13, matching the total the squad set earlier in the season against both Weber State and Omaha. Akokwe Clement accounted for a career-high three aces, including two that came within the first three points of the match, while Maggie Sherrill added a personal-best two aces during the same serving session. Hillary Keltner, Rachael Bradley Powers and Rebecca Bates filled out the Falcons' stat line, as each recorded one ace.
WHAT'S ON DECK
The Falcons close out the 2014 campaign next Tuesday (Nov. 25), when they travel to New Mexico.
