Air Force Opens 2015 Season Hosting Falcon Classic
8/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 26, 2015
The Air Force volleyball team opens the 2015 season this weekend, as it hosts the second-annual Falcon Classic, in Honor of Amy Svoboda, at the Cadet East Gym. The three-day tournament, which begins on Friday (Aug. 28), features visiting teams from Montana, New Mexico State, Northeastern and 16th-ranked Arizona State. The Falcons open play at 12:00 p.m., when they face Montana for the first time since 1983.
ABOUT AMY SVOBODA
Amy Svoboda was a 1989 Academy graduate and four-year letterwinner on the Air Force volleyball team, who was killed during an A-10 training accident in 1997. Svoboda, who earned MVP honors during her senior season with the Falcons, was one of the first 14 female fighter pilots in the Air Force ... and one of the first six to fly the A-10.
Match Notes 01: Falcon Classic, in Honor of Amy Svoboda 
COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Aug 28: Northeastern vs New Mexico State - 10:00 a.m.
Aug 28: Montana - 12:00 p.m.
Aug 28: Arizona State vs Northeastern - 5:00 p.m.
Aug 28: New Mexico State - 7:30 p.m.
Aug 29: Northeastern - 10:00 a.m.
Aug 29: New Mexico State vs Arizona State - 12:00 p.m.
Aug 29: Montana vs Northeastern - 5:00 p.m.
Aug 29: Arizona State - 7:30 p.m.
Aug 30: New Mexico State vs Montana - 11:00 a.m.
FOLLOW ALONG FROM HOME, SEE YOUR COMMENTS ON AIR
All Air Force matches will have live video and live stats via GoAirForceFalcons.com, while live stats will be available for all matches. For fans on Twitter, use the hashtag #AFVB and your comments may be used on the broadcast.
AIR FORCE IN SEASON OPENERS
The Falcons hold a 22-17 all-time record in the first match of a new year, while head coach Matt McShane is 2-3 overall in openers and 2-0 in season debuts held at the Academy.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Arizona State enters the 2015 season with a #16 ranking in the AVCA Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Sun Devils, who finished last season with a 20-14 record, are one of two visiting teams to have concluded the 2014 season with an above-500 record, as New Mexico State recorded a 17-11 mark. Northeastern was 10-20 one year ago, while Montana went 6-23.
SERIES HISTORY
Having only faced this weekend's opponents a total six times in the program's 39-year history (0-6), Air Force brings an unfamiliar lineup to the Falcon Classic. New Mexico State is the Falcons' most recent opponent, although the two schools last faced one another in 1997. Air Force has never faced Montana or Northeastern at the Division I level, as the Falcons last played those teams in 1983 and 1985, respectively, while Arizona State is one of five first-time opponents that Air Force will face this season.
RECORD BOOK WATCH
Akokwe Clement enters the 2015 season ranked fourth on the program's Division I career list in kills (1019) and points (1108), while Rebecca Bates holds the same placement in digs (905). The trio of Raquel Rosas, Taylor Parker and Clement are ranked eighth (148), ninth (145) and 10th (122), respectively, in assisted blocks, while Rosas and Parker are currently tied for eighth in total blocks with 165 apiece. Maggie Sherrill is also listed among the DI rankings, as she is ranked ninth with 841 career kills.
LEADING THE WAY
Taylor Parker and Maggie Sherrill were selected as captains for the 2015 season, while Akokwe Clement will serve as the floor captain during matches. Sherrill, who held a share of the captaincy last season, is the eighth player in Air Force history to hold that title in back-to-back years.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
The Falcons added eight freshmen to their 2015 roster with the addition of Julia Boswell, Shanleigh Conlan, Olivia Durrence, Lauren Heldt, Sarah Hellman, Abigail Miksch, Ariana Mosley and Elizabeth Pennington.
TWO-SPORT STANDOUT
Following her impressive freshman campaign on the volleyball court, Shelley Spires joined the track and field team as a high jumper. Spires, the track and field program's Newcomer of the Year, matched the Academy's outdoor record of 5'9¼" at the Rock Chalk Classic and posted the third-best indoor clearance (5'8¾") at the Air Force Holiday Open.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Falcons will play 16 matches within the friendly confines of Falcon Court at East Gym during the 2015 season. Following the season-opening Falcon Classic, Air Force will co-host the Omni Invitational with Colorado (Sept. 17-20), before beginning the home slate of Mountain West matches during the last weekend of September.
FALCONS EARN PROGRAM'S HIGHEST PRESEASON RANKING
Air Force earned its history preseason conference ranking in program history this year, as the Mountain West coaches picked the Falcons seventh in the 11-team league with 41 points. That ranking surpassed the previous high-ranking of ninth, which was set by last year's squad.
ON THE SIDELINES
Matt McShane returns to the sideline for his sixth season with the Falcons' volleyball squad. This year, he is joined on the bench by assistant coaches Keith Barnett (first season) and Marc Swindle (sixth season), as well as volunteer coach AJ Joseph (fifth season).
MEDIA GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE
The 2015 Air Force Volleyball Media Guide is now available online, by clicking here .
FALCONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The volleyball team is on Facebook (facebook.com/afvolleyball) and Twitter (twitter.com/af_volleyabll) and become a fan today to receive up-to-date and behind-the-scenes information on the Air Force volleyball program. During all home matches, use the hashtag #AFVB and you may see your tweet on the FalconVision broadcast.
WHAT'S ON DECK
The Falcons head up Interstate-25 next weekend for the annual Denver Classic. The Falcons will face first-time opponents Villanova and UT-Arlington, as well as long-time foe Denver, over the Sept. 4-5 weekend at Hamilton Gymnasium.
