Air Force Opens Conference Action at Nevada
9/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Air Force volleyball team remains on the road, as it opens Mountain West action this week against Nevada and San Jose State. The Falcons, who concluded non-conference action with a 6-8 record, kick off league play in Reno, Nev., on Thursday, Sept. 25, before heading to San Jose, Calif., for an afternoon contest on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Match Notes 05: at Nevada, at San Jose State 
PREVIEW: NEVADA
The conference-opener for both schools is slated for 6:30 p.m., at the Virginia Street Gym in Reno. Air Force holds a 3-2 advantage against the Wolfpack, who enters the week with a 3-7 record. Nevada, which opened the season with a 3-1 mark before dropping six straight, has faced two common opponents with the Falcons - California (1-3) and Denver (1-3). Tessa Lea'ea currently leads the Wolfpack with 104 kills and 46 blocks (16 solo, 30 assisted).
OPPONENT PREVIEW: SAN JOSE STATE
Air Force's match at San Jose State is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., at Spartan Gym in San Jose. The Falcons, who captured their first-ever victory in the series during their second meeting last year, trail the Spartans 4-1 all-time. San Jose State, which captured their first three wins of the season last weekend to move to 3-10 on the year, will face New Mexico on Thursday night. Tyanna Roy leads the Spartans with 146 kills, while Sara Hibbs has accounted for a team-leading 48 blocks (seven solo, 41 assisted).
FOLLOW ALONG FROM HOME
Both matches are scheduled to be streamed live on the respective websites of the host schools. Stats and video of Thursday's match can be found at www.NevadaWolfpack.com, while Saturday's video can be streamed from www.SJSUSpartans.com.
ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS
Akokwe Clement and Rebecca Bates were named to the all-tournament team of the Lone Star Showdown on Sept. 20. Clement recorded 50 kills during the three matches, recording at least 16 in each, while Bates capped the tournament with a 31-dig performance against Texas Tech.
KELTNER LISTED AMONG NATION'S BEST
With 546 total assists, Hillary Keltner is ranked 17th in the nation, according to the Sept. 22 release of NCAA stats. She is also listed 21st in assists-per-set with an 11.14 average.
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER MILESTONE
Hillary Keltner continues to impact the Academy's record book, moving from fifth to fourth on the program's all-time list. Keltner, who notched a career-high 56 assists in the non-conference finale against Texas Tech to improve to a to-date total of 3348, moved over Angela Roberts (1984-87, 3215) on the program's all-time list during the Falcons' match with Denver on Sept. 16.
CLEMENT ENTERS THE RECORD BOOK
The program's Division I record book also got an adjustment during Air Force's Sept. 16 match with Denver, as Akokwe Clement entered the top-10 list of career DI kills. Clement quickly climbed the standings, as a 50-kill tournament performance at the Lone Star Showdown jumped her over Shaylor Billings (1997-99, 742) and Summer Koons (1996-99, 797) with a to-date total of 798.
JOINING AN ELITE LIST
Rebecca Bates recorded a career-best 31 digs against Texas Tech - shattering her previous high total by 10. She is just the third Division I player to break the 30-dig mark in a match, joining Maiya Perich (36 in 2011) and Emma Dridge (31 in 2013).
WHAT'S ON DECK
Air Force returns to the Academy next week for conference matches against Boise State and Utah State. The Falcons will host the Broncos on Thursday, Oct. 2, before facing the Aggies on Saturday, Oct. 4. Both matches are slated to begin at 6:00 p.m.
