Falcons Open 2016 Hosting Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic
8/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 23, 2016
The Air Force volleyball team opens the 2016 season this weekend, as it hosts the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic in Clune Arena. The two-day tournament, which begins on Friday (Aug. 26), features visiting teams from Grand Canyon, Jacksonville State and Montana State. The Falcons open play at 7:00 p.m., when they host Jacksonville State for just the second time in program history.
Meet Notes 01: Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic 
ABOUT AMY SVOBODA
The tournament is named after Amy Svoboda, 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.
COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Aug 26: Montana State vs Grand Canyon -- 4:00 p.m.
Aug 26: Air Force vs Jacksonville State -- 7:00 p.m.
Aug 27: Jacksonville State vs Grand Canyon -- 10:00 a.m.
Aug 27: Air Force vs Montana State -- 12:00 p.m.
Aug 27: Montana State vs Jacksonville State -- 5:00 p.m.
Aug 27: Air Force vs Grand Canyon -- 7:00 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG FROM HOME
All Air Force matches will be broadcast live on GoAirForceFalcons.com, while live stats will be provided for all six contests. Links to Gametracker and Stat Broadcast can be found on the team's calendar page.
AIR FORCE IN SEASON OPENERS
The Falcons hold a 22-18 all-time record in the first match of a new season.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Jacksonville State finished 14-20 in 2015, while Grand Canyon was 7-21 and Montana State went 3-21.
SERIES HISTORY
Air Force has faced this weekend's opponents a total of nine times in the program's 40-year history. Following a five-set victory last season, the Falcons are 1-1 all-time against the Montana State. Air Force hasn't faced Jacksonville State since 2000, when they swept the Gamecocks in the programs' only meeting. The Falcons have never faced Grand Canyon at the Division I level, but are 3-3 in the all-time series, with the last match coming in 1993.
RECORD BOOK WATCH
Following a 740-assist freshman campaign, Sarah Hellman enters the 2016 season ranked eighth on the program's Division I assist list. With 600 assists last year, Shanleigh Conlan is just 52 helpers away from cracking the top 10.
FALCONS PICKED 11TH IN PRESEASON POLL
Air Force was picked 11th in the annual Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll
ON THE SIDELINES
Air Force is under the direction of first-year head coach Marc Swindle, who took over the program in April after spending the previous six seasons as an assistant coach on the Falcons' staff. Swindle will be joined on the sideline by Keith Barnett, Elysse Richardson and cadet coach Raquel Rosas.
MEDIA GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE
The 2016 Air Force Volleyball Media Guide is now available online at GoAirForceFalcons.com.
WHAT'S ON DECK
The Falcons travel to Lafayette, La., next weekend for the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic on Sept. 2-3. Air Force will face Alabama A&M, Louisiana-Lafayette and Nicholls State at Earl K. Long Gym.
