Falcons Head West for Matches at Fresno State, UNLV
11/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 10, 2015
FalconVision: Weekly Interview with Coach McShane
The Air Force volleyball team travels to Fresno State and UNLV this week for its final two-match road swing of the season. The Falcons will face the Bulldogs in Fresno, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 12, before facing the Rebels on Saturday, Nov. 14, in Las Vegas.
Match Notes 12: at Fresno State, at UNLV 
FOLLOW ALONG FROM HOME
Live stats and video will be available for both matches.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Air Force fell to 13-14 on the year and 5-8 in the conference after a pair of road losses at San Diego State (0-3) and Nevada (1-3). The Bulldogs are currently ranked second in the conference in digs (14.98) and third in both kills (13.58) and assists (12.18). Individually, Maggie Eppright leads the Mountain West rankings in digs with a 4.84 average.
SCOUTING THE REBELS
UNLV, which will first host New Mexico on Thursday, is currently 13-12 on the year and 6-7 in Mountain West action. The Rebels, who are coming off of losses at Nevada (1-3) and San Diego State (0-3), are ranked third in the conference in blocks with a 2.89 per-set average. Individually, Ashley Owens is ranked second in blocks (1.48), while Carly Riehl is listed third in digs (4.60).
SERIES HISTORY
Fresno State leads the all-time series with Air Force by a 7-3 margin, while UNLV holds a 34-3 advantage over the Falcons in head-to-head meetings. Air Force has faced both squads once earlier this season at the Academy. The Falcons were swept by the Bulldogs on Oct. 17, but captured its first victory over the Rebels since 1999 on Oct. 15.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Akokwe Clement is ranked second in the Mountain West in both kills (3.81) and points (4.40), while Rachael Bradley Powers holds the same placement in service aces (0.41). As a team, the Falcons are ranked second in aces (1.38) and hold additional top-five standings in assists (fourth, 11.67), kills (fifth, 12.52) and blocks (fifth, 2.20).
CLEMENT TAKES OVER DIVISION I POINTS LEAD
With her first point of the match on Nov. 7, Akokwe Clement broke the Academy's Division I career points record. Clement, who tied the record of 1640.5 that Delavane Diaz had held since 2003 during a 19-point performance against Colorado State on Nov. 5, recorded 21 kills, one service ace, one solo block and two assisted stops for a 24-point total to break the record against the Cowgirls.
RECORD BOOK WATCH
The current crop of Air Force seniors are dotted throughout the Academy's Division I career record book. Akokwe Clement is ranked second (1429) and Maggie Sherrill is ranked fifth (991) in DI career kills, while Rebecca Bates and Rachael Bradley Powers are both listed on a pair of DI career lists. Bates is currently ranked second in digs (1267) and seventh in service aces (83), while Bradley Powers is listed fifth in aces (87) and seventh in digs (866).
TRIO DOMINATING ACADEMY BLOCKING MARKS
Three Falcons have made major adjustments to the Academy's Division I blocking categories this season. Taylor Parker and Raquel Rosas, who became just the fifth and sixth players in DI history to surpass 200 assisted blocks in a career, are ranked third (245) and fifth (205), respectively, in that category. Parker is also ranked third in total blocks (278) and eighth in solo stops (33), while Rosas is listed sixth in total blocks (233) and ninth in solos (28). Akokwe Clement, who debuted on all three lists this year, is ranked seventh in assisted blocks (170), eighth in total blocks (200) and ninth in solo blocks (28).
20-20
With 21 kills and a career-best 20 digs, Akokwe Clement recorded the program's first 20-20 match in recent history. She is the fourth Mountain West player this season to reach the 20-tally mark in kills and digs – Boise State's Sierra Nobley (2), Nevada's Madison Foley (1), Nevada's Madison Morell (1) – and the fifth in any statistical category – New Mexico's Hannah Johnson (3).
MAKING HISTORY
Air Force claimed a 26-24 victory over 15th-ranked Colorado State on Thursday, Nov. 5 – marking the first time since 2004 that the Falcons have taken a set from the Rams. The Falcons' win snapped a 64-set losing streak to their counterparts from Fort Collins and marked just the third time ever that Air Force has taken a set from CSU.
WHAT'S ON DECK
Air Force splits its schedule next week, hosting Boise State on Wednesday, Nov. 18, and traveling to Utah State on Saturday, Nov. 21.
