Air Force Drops 3-0 Road Decision to UNLV

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Air Force volleyball team opened the second half of the conference season with a three-set loss to UNLV this evening (Oct. 25) in Las Vegas. The Falcons fell in straight 25-16, 25-15, 25-20 sets to the host Rebels, as they split the season series with UNLV.

Senior Elizabeth Pennington paced the Falcons with eight kills on .353 hitting (8k-2e-17a), while classmate Abigail Miksch and junior Denise Ssozi each tallied seven kills. Sophomores Andi Ahlers and Alex King led the team in assists (15) and digs (eight), respectively, while freshman Rachel Budzinski collected a match-high three blocks (all assisted).

UNLV jumped out to a fast 6-2 lead, but a kill from senior Lauren Heldt highlighted a 4-0 run by the Falcons that evened the set at six. Another score by Heldt matched scores at seven, while Miksch put down a kill to tie the set at eight. The senior added two more kills, but the Rebels used an 8-2 run to push their advantage to six (10-16). Pennington added a pair of kills and a service ace, while Ahlers tallied a kill, but UNLV took the opening set by a 25-16 margin.

The teams traded the points to open the second set, with Heldt teaming up with Budzinski for the team's first block (2-1) and adding a kill (3-3). Miksch evened the second at four, while a kill from sophomore Kathleen Medill and a block from Budzinski and Ssozi tied the set at six. A kill from Ssozi broke up a 5-1 run by the Rebels (7-11), while a kill (Pennington) and block (Budzinski, Miksch) brought Air Force within two (9-11). The Rebels pushed their advantage to 10 (11-21) and the two squads traded the next few points, with Ssozi and Budzinski earning kills for the Falcons, before UNLV took the set 25-15.

Kills from Miksch, Ssozi and Pennington (two) gave Air Force the early 4-2 lead in the third set, but UNLV responded with a 3-0 run that ended when another score from Pennington tied the set at five. Ssozi evened the score at six, but UNLV pushed itself out to a four-point advantage (13-9). Ssozi, Miksch and sophomore Mackenzie Robertson registered kills, while a block from Pennington and Miksch pulled the Falcons with one (17-18). Pennington registered another pair of kills, but the Rebels closed the match on a 6-2 run to take the 25-20 victory.

The Falcons wrap up a two-week road swing on Saturday (Oct. 27), when they travel to New Mexico.

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Players Mentioned

Andi Ahlers

Rachel Budzinski

Lauren Heldt

Alex King

Kathleen Medill

Abigail Miksch

Elizabeth Pennington

Mackenzie Robertson

Denise Ssozi