Falcons Head West for Two MW Matches
10/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
FalconVision Interview with Coach Swindle
The Air Force volleyball team heads back out on the road this weekend, as it travels to California and Nevada for Mountain West matches. The Falcons open the week at San Diego State on Thursday, Oct. 27, before traveling to Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Match Notes 10: at San Diego State, at Nevada 
FOLLOW ALONG FROM HOME
Both matches will be streamed live through the host schools' websites.
SCOUTING THE AZTECS
San Diego State enters the week with a 13-10 overall record and a 5-4 mark in conference play. The Aztecs split last a pair of matches last weekend, sweeping Nevada at home and dropping a five-set decision to Utah State on the road. The team is ranked fourth in the Mountain West in both kills (13.14) and assists (12.31), while Deja Harris is ranked second in hitting with a .384 average.
SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK
Nevada, which will host Boise State prior to facing the Falcons, is currently 14-7 on the season and holds a 5-4 mark in league action. The Wolf Pack dropped a pair of MW matches on the road last week, falling to San Diego State (0-3) and Utah State (1-3). Nevada is ranked among the top-five in two conference stats, including hitting percentage (.250, second) and kills (12.95, fifth). Individually, Madison Morrell is ranked second in kills (4.17) and third in points (4.65), while Madison Foley is listed fourth in aces (0.39).
SERIES HISTORY
San Diego State holds a 35-5 advantage over the Falcons in the series, although Air Force has won three of its last four meetings with the Aztecs, including a 2015 victory in San Diego. The series between Nevada and Air Force is tied at five wins each, as the Wolf Pack evened the record with a victory at the Academy earlier this fall.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Through the ninth week of the 2016 campaign, four Falcons are listed among the top-10 of the Mountain West. Elizabeth Pennington is ranked fourth in kills (3.68) and sixth in points (4.11), while Abigail Miksch is listed eighth in kills (3.47) and ninth in points (3.74). Sarah Hellman is listed sixth in assists (9.63) and Savannah Banyai is ranked ninth in digs (2.87), while the team is ranked fourth in both service aces (1.36) and digs (13.81).
HEINECK'S BLOCK PARTY
Assisting on seven blocks over the Oct. 20-22 weekend, Piper Heineck debuted in the fifth on the program's list for single-season assisted blocks at the Division I level with 70. Heineck, who sat in 12th prior to the seven-block outing, is just the fourth DI Falcon to reach the 70-assist tally in a season.
WHAT'S ON DECK
Air Force returns to the Academy next week to face San Jose State (Nov. 10) and Fresno State (Nov. 12).
