Saturday, September 8
USAFA
12:30 p.m.
Air Force Academy
8-3
3
vs
2
Presbyterian
1-7
1
2
3
4
5
F
Presbyterian
25
20
25
13
11
2
Air Force
18
25
14
25
15
3
Air Force Nabs 3-2 Victory over Presbyterian
9/8/2018 9:22:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Kathleen Medill accounted for over half of the Falcons' 19 assisted blocks during the five-set win.
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force volleyball team capped a busy week of competition with a 3-2 victory over Presbyterian on Saturday, Sept. 8, during the final day of action at the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic. The Falcons, who were playing their eighth match in nine days, defeated the Blue Hose 18-25, 25-20, 14-25, 25-13, 15-11 at the Academy's Cadet East Gym.
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The Falcons' offensive trio of senior Abigail Miksch, junior Denise Ssozi and senior Elizabeth Pennington combined for 39 of the team's 52 kills, while freshman Bailey Keith collected a pair of service aces. Classmate Lily Landis (13), senior Sarah Hellman (12), sophomore Jordan Daniels (12) and senior Shanleigh Conlan (11) collected double-digit dig totals, with Conlan adding a season-high 33 assists for a double-double. Sophomore Kathleen Medill assisted on over half of the team's blocks, as she registered a personal-best 10 to lead all players.
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Presbyterian earned the opening point, but Pennington put the Falcons on the board during the ensuing play. Kills from Medill and classmate Cambria Galloway helped the Falcons even the score at three, but the Blue Hose strung together several short scoring bursts to take a three-point lead, before pushing it out as the set progressed. A kill from Ssozi put the Falcons in double figures (10-17), but despite additional scores from Pennington, Miksch, Medill and Galloway, Presbyterian took the opening set 25-18.
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Pennington struck first in the second, while a kill from Medill gave the Falcons a 4-3 lead. Miksch put down a score to tie the set at seven, but Presbyterian scored seven of the next points to take a 14-8 advantage. Air Force responded with seven straight points, including a Pennington kill that gave the Falcons the lead at 15-14. The Falcons increased their lead following a kill from Conlan (18-15), a block from Medill and Ssozi (19-15), and a kill from Miksch (21-16). Presbyterian pulled within two (22-20), but another score from Miksch helped Air Force take the 25-20 victory and even the match at one-set apiece.
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The Blue Hose jumped out to a fast 5-1 lead, while a kill from Keith gave the Falcons their first offensive point of the set (4-6). The visitors forced Air Force into an early timeout four plays later (4-10) and continued to stretch its advantage. Miksch tallied four kills, while Ssozi and Medill added multiple points, but Presbyterian won the set by a 25-14 margin.
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Following a back-and-forth start to the next set, which included six ties in the first 12 points (6-6), Air Force quickly took control of the game. Pennington put down a kill to break the six-all tie and spark a 4-0 run that included another kill by the senior and a score by Miksch. The Falcons doubled up the Blue Hose at 16-8 following an ace by Hellman, while a Medill/Ssozi block pushed Air Force's lead to 10 (19-9). Medill added another block – this time with senior Lauren Heldt – on the next play, while kills from Ssozi and Pennington gave Air Force the easy 25-13 victory.
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The squads traded the opening points of the deciding set, with Air Force equaling scores off of two points from Pennington (kill: 1-1, block with Medill: 2-2) and a kill from freshman Lily Landis (3-3). The Falcons pushed their lead to three off of a Heldt/Medill block and a Ssozi kill, but Presbyterian scored the next four points to go up 7-6. Air Force retook the lead following another Ssozi score, as the teams switched sides with Air Force holding an 8-7 advantage. Presbyterian retook the lead at 9-8, before Ssozi and Pennington returned the advantage to Air Force (10-9). Three errors by the visitors nudged the Falcons to match point, while a kill from Pennington secured the 15-11 victory for Air Force.
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Air Force returns to action next Friday, when its hosts Maryland Eastern Shore and Samford on Sept. 14.
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The Falcons' offensive trio of senior Abigail Miksch, junior Denise Ssozi and senior Elizabeth Pennington combined for 39 of the team's 52 kills, while freshman Bailey Keith collected a pair of service aces. Classmate Lily Landis (13), senior Sarah Hellman (12), sophomore Jordan Daniels (12) and senior Shanleigh Conlan (11) collected double-digit dig totals, with Conlan adding a season-high 33 assists for a double-double. Sophomore Kathleen Medill assisted on over half of the team's blocks, as she registered a personal-best 10 to lead all players.
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Presbyterian earned the opening point, but Pennington put the Falcons on the board during the ensuing play. Kills from Medill and classmate Cambria Galloway helped the Falcons even the score at three, but the Blue Hose strung together several short scoring bursts to take a three-point lead, before pushing it out as the set progressed. A kill from Ssozi put the Falcons in double figures (10-17), but despite additional scores from Pennington, Miksch, Medill and Galloway, Presbyterian took the opening set 25-18.
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Pennington struck first in the second, while a kill from Medill gave the Falcons a 4-3 lead. Miksch put down a score to tie the set at seven, but Presbyterian scored seven of the next points to take a 14-8 advantage. Air Force responded with seven straight points, including a Pennington kill that gave the Falcons the lead at 15-14. The Falcons increased their lead following a kill from Conlan (18-15), a block from Medill and Ssozi (19-15), and a kill from Miksch (21-16). Presbyterian pulled within two (22-20), but another score from Miksch helped Air Force take the 25-20 victory and even the match at one-set apiece.
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The Blue Hose jumped out to a fast 5-1 lead, while a kill from Keith gave the Falcons their first offensive point of the set (4-6). The visitors forced Air Force into an early timeout four plays later (4-10) and continued to stretch its advantage. Miksch tallied four kills, while Ssozi and Medill added multiple points, but Presbyterian won the set by a 25-14 margin.
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Following a back-and-forth start to the next set, which included six ties in the first 12 points (6-6), Air Force quickly took control of the game. Pennington put down a kill to break the six-all tie and spark a 4-0 run that included another kill by the senior and a score by Miksch. The Falcons doubled up the Blue Hose at 16-8 following an ace by Hellman, while a Medill/Ssozi block pushed Air Force's lead to 10 (19-9). Medill added another block – this time with senior Lauren Heldt – on the next play, while kills from Ssozi and Pennington gave Air Force the easy 25-13 victory.
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The squads traded the opening points of the deciding set, with Air Force equaling scores off of two points from Pennington (kill: 1-1, block with Medill: 2-2) and a kill from freshman Lily Landis (3-3). The Falcons pushed their lead to three off of a Heldt/Medill block and a Ssozi kill, but Presbyterian scored the next four points to go up 7-6. Air Force retook the lead following another Ssozi score, as the teams switched sides with Air Force holding an 8-7 advantage. Presbyterian retook the lead at 9-8, before Ssozi and Pennington returned the advantage to Air Force (10-9). Three errors by the visitors nudged the Falcons to match point, while a kill from Pennington secured the 15-11 victory for Air Force.
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Air Force returns to action next Friday, when its hosts Maryland Eastern Shore and Samford on Sept. 14.
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Team Stats
PC
AF
Kills
46
52
Errors
24
28
Attempts
150
153
Hitting %
.147
.157
Points
62.0
65.5
Assists
45
48
Aces
9
4
Blocks
7.0
9.5
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
10
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MH/MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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