Photo by: Trevor Cokley
Fall Sport Senior Spotlight: Andi Ahlers
11/4/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
#22 | ANDI AHLERS | S | PACIFIC, MO.
CADET SQUADRON 21
IN HER WORDS:
CADET SQUADRON 21
IN HER WORDS:
I spent the last six weeks of the summer working on a Cadet Summer Research Project for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). We took data pertaining to the careers of Air Force Officers and used it to create a computer model that can predict how officers would be ranked among their peers on a promotion board.
After graduation, I hope to be an Operations Research Analyst! As an analyst, I would get to analyze data and work to ensure missions are as efficient and effective as possible!
Going through the COVID-19 pandemic I've really been reminded of the value of spending time with family and loved ones. I've learned to be extremely grateful for things that I often took for granted, such as being able to play volleyball and going to class. And, most importantly, I've learned that there are a lot of extraneous things in our lives that we don't really need to be happy -- if I have the people I love, everything else will work itself out!
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JUNIOR YEAR | 2019: Earned the program's Most Valuable Player award...team captain...served as the starting setter for 26 matches, missing four with illness...accounted for 845 assists...that is the ninth-highest single-season tally in Air Force Division I history...recorded a career-high 50 assists in the Falcons' win over San Diego State...reached the 40-assist mark in five additional contests, including a 49-helper outing at Oral Roberts...recorded 1000th career assist against Little Rock...debuted on the program's DI list for single-season helpers during a 37-assist performance against Nevada...ranked second on the team with 233 digs...posted a personal-best 19 digs against Santa Clara...led the team in digs during three matches...combined for a team-leading 13 double-doubles...also led the team with 26 service aces...tallied a season-high three aces three times – against Oral Roberts, Colorado State and San Diego State...added two solo blocks, 24 assisted stops and 38 kills on the year...recorded a career-high five kills during road matches at Nevada and at New Mexico...was a perfect five-of-five (with no errors) in the Falcons' win over the Lobos...named to the all-tournament team at the Oral Roberts Invitational...academic all-conference selection...MW Scholar-Athlete.
SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2018: Saw action in 119 sets, including all 73 in conference play...served as the starting setter for 19 matches...tallied 621 assists on the year...led the team in assists during 17 contests...collected a season-high 32 helpers against both Maryland and Wyoming...also reached the 30-assist mark against Valparaiso (30)...tallied double-digit assist totals in all but three matches and reached the 20-assist barrier 13 times...debuted on the Academy's Division I list for career assists during a 17-helper performance against San Jose State...became the program's ninth DI setter to tally at least 900 helpers in a career during a 12-assist outing at Fresno State...also accounted for 222 digs, 31 service aces and 12 kills...recorded a career-high 14 digs against New Mexico...tallied at least 10 digs in six additional contests...recorded seven double-doubles on the year (assists-digs)...collected a personal-best four aces against Maryland Eastern Shore...tallied at least two aces in nine other matches...recorded a career-high two kills in home opener against McNeese State...matched that tallied against Maryland Eastern Shore and in the road match at Boise State...academic all-conference selection...MW Scholar-Athlete.
FRESHMAN YEAR | 2017: Played in 66 sets after missing the beginning of the season with injury...member of the starting rotation for three matches...tallied 286 assists, 14 service aces, 73 digs, two blocks (both assisted) and one kill on the year...recorded a season-best 34 assists at Fresno State...added double-digit helpers in 12 additional matches and surpassed the 20-assist mark in five contests...accounted for a season-best three aces during both matches with Utah State...collected a season-high seven digs in back-to-back road matches at Boise State and Utah State...academic all-conference selection.
HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Eureka High School...four-year starter on the varsity volleyball team...coached by Carol Atienza...two-time MVP (2015, 2017)...three-time first-team all-district selection (2014, 2015, 2016)...earned second-team all-state and all-region honors as a senior...three-time all-conference honoree (first-team in 2015, 2016; second-team in 2014)...named Varsity Rookie of the year in 2014...member of the National Honor Society...named PSAT Nationally Commended Scholar in 2016...member of the ACT 30+ Club...named EHS Math Student of the Year as a senior...also earned the school's Gold Standard award that year...received the Missouri House of Representatives' Glory of Missouri Award in 2017...competed at the club level for the Rockwood Thunder...coached by Jordan Berry in U18...member of the team that won the Beast of the Southeast Qualifier in 2017...named MVP of that tournament.
PERSONAL: Full name is Miranda Nicolle Ahlers...goes by Andi...daughter of Jack and Erin Ahlers...has one older sister and one younger brother...majoring in operations research...has served as Chief Clerk, Superintendent, Interim Commander and Flight Commander for squadron...co-chair of the USAFA Athletics Community Service Program...inducted into the Academy's Phi Kappa Phi Chapter #347 (an academic honor society) and the Omega Rho Chapter (an honor society for operation research and management sciences)...hobbies include playing cards and hanging out with friends and family...grandfather, Jack Ahlers, Sr., served in the U.S. Army Reserves...another family member, Lowell Ahlers, Sr., served in the U.S. Army during World War II...greatest moment in sports was earning MVP honors and finishing first at the 2017 Beast of the Southeast Qualifier in Atlanta...completed a Cadet Summer Research Program (CSRP) over the summer...member of Cadet Squadron 21.
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HEAD COACH KEITH BARNETT: Steady, disciplined, organized, and a three-year starter ... Andi is everything you could want in a setter with her mechanics, willingness to build relationships with her teammates, and seeing eye-to-eye with the coaching staff.
After graduation, I hope to be an Operations Research Analyst! As an analyst, I would get to analyze data and work to ensure missions are as efficient and effective as possible!
Going through the COVID-19 pandemic I've really been reminded of the value of spending time with family and loved ones. I've learned to be extremely grateful for things that I often took for granted, such as being able to play volleyball and going to class. And, most importantly, I've learned that there are a lot of extraneous things in our lives that we don't really need to be happy -- if I have the people I love, everything else will work itself out!
--
JUNIOR YEAR | 2019: Earned the program's Most Valuable Player award...team captain...served as the starting setter for 26 matches, missing four with illness...accounted for 845 assists...that is the ninth-highest single-season tally in Air Force Division I history...recorded a career-high 50 assists in the Falcons' win over San Diego State...reached the 40-assist mark in five additional contests, including a 49-helper outing at Oral Roberts...recorded 1000th career assist against Little Rock...debuted on the program's DI list for single-season helpers during a 37-assist performance against Nevada...ranked second on the team with 233 digs...posted a personal-best 19 digs against Santa Clara...led the team in digs during three matches...combined for a team-leading 13 double-doubles...also led the team with 26 service aces...tallied a season-high three aces three times – against Oral Roberts, Colorado State and San Diego State...added two solo blocks, 24 assisted stops and 38 kills on the year...recorded a career-high five kills during road matches at Nevada and at New Mexico...was a perfect five-of-five (with no errors) in the Falcons' win over the Lobos...named to the all-tournament team at the Oral Roberts Invitational...academic all-conference selection...MW Scholar-Athlete.
SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2018: Saw action in 119 sets, including all 73 in conference play...served as the starting setter for 19 matches...tallied 621 assists on the year...led the team in assists during 17 contests...collected a season-high 32 helpers against both Maryland and Wyoming...also reached the 30-assist mark against Valparaiso (30)...tallied double-digit assist totals in all but three matches and reached the 20-assist barrier 13 times...debuted on the Academy's Division I list for career assists during a 17-helper performance against San Jose State...became the program's ninth DI setter to tally at least 900 helpers in a career during a 12-assist outing at Fresno State...also accounted for 222 digs, 31 service aces and 12 kills...recorded a career-high 14 digs against New Mexico...tallied at least 10 digs in six additional contests...recorded seven double-doubles on the year (assists-digs)...collected a personal-best four aces against Maryland Eastern Shore...tallied at least two aces in nine other matches...recorded a career-high two kills in home opener against McNeese State...matched that tallied against Maryland Eastern Shore and in the road match at Boise State...academic all-conference selection...MW Scholar-Athlete.
FRESHMAN YEAR | 2017: Played in 66 sets after missing the beginning of the season with injury...member of the starting rotation for three matches...tallied 286 assists, 14 service aces, 73 digs, two blocks (both assisted) and one kill on the year...recorded a season-best 34 assists at Fresno State...added double-digit helpers in 12 additional matches and surpassed the 20-assist mark in five contests...accounted for a season-best three aces during both matches with Utah State...collected a season-high seven digs in back-to-back road matches at Boise State and Utah State...academic all-conference selection.
HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Eureka High School...four-year starter on the varsity volleyball team...coached by Carol Atienza...two-time MVP (2015, 2017)...three-time first-team all-district selection (2014, 2015, 2016)...earned second-team all-state and all-region honors as a senior...three-time all-conference honoree (first-team in 2015, 2016; second-team in 2014)...named Varsity Rookie of the year in 2014...member of the National Honor Society...named PSAT Nationally Commended Scholar in 2016...member of the ACT 30+ Club...named EHS Math Student of the Year as a senior...also earned the school's Gold Standard award that year...received the Missouri House of Representatives' Glory of Missouri Award in 2017...competed at the club level for the Rockwood Thunder...coached by Jordan Berry in U18...member of the team that won the Beast of the Southeast Qualifier in 2017...named MVP of that tournament.
PERSONAL: Full name is Miranda Nicolle Ahlers...goes by Andi...daughter of Jack and Erin Ahlers...has one older sister and one younger brother...majoring in operations research...has served as Chief Clerk, Superintendent, Interim Commander and Flight Commander for squadron...co-chair of the USAFA Athletics Community Service Program...inducted into the Academy's Phi Kappa Phi Chapter #347 (an academic honor society) and the Omega Rho Chapter (an honor society for operation research and management sciences)...hobbies include playing cards and hanging out with friends and family...grandfather, Jack Ahlers, Sr., served in the U.S. Army Reserves...another family member, Lowell Ahlers, Sr., served in the U.S. Army during World War II...greatest moment in sports was earning MVP honors and finishing first at the 2017 Beast of the Southeast Qualifier in Atlanta...completed a Cadet Summer Research Program (CSRP) over the summer...member of Cadet Squadron 21.
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HEAD COACH KEITH BARNETT: Steady, disciplined, organized, and a three-year starter ... Andi is everything you could want in a setter with her mechanics, willingness to build relationships with her teammates, and seeing eye-to-eye with the coaching staff.
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