Falcons Fall to League-Leading Rams

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force volleyball team dropped a tough 3-0 decision to league-leading Colorado State this evening (Oct. 28) at Cadet East Gym. In a contest that included 18 ties and 10 lead changes, the Falcons fell in straight 23-25, 16-25, 20-25 sets to the visiting Rams.

Sophomore Joi Harvey led the Falcons with eight kills on .700 hitting (8-1-10), while junior BrookeLyn Messenger added seven kills and accounted for one of the team's four service aces. Sophomore Caroline Reinkensmeyer led the team with a pair of aces and 17 assists, while classmate Allie Griffith posted a team-leading tally in digs (six). Freshman Mac Russ led all players with four blocks (one solo, three assisted), while sophomore Aaryn Scires also tallied multiple stops (three, all assisted).

Air Force jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead following a kill and block from Russ (freshman Ella Tschuor on the assist), a kill from Scires, and a service ace from Messenger. A pair of strikes from Harvey broke a four-all tie, while a kill from Messenger helped push Air Force's advantage back to three (8-5). Air Force used kills from Harvey, Messenger (two), and sophomore Savannah Neal to take a 13-9 lead, while Scires and Tschuor put down scores to maintain the four-point lead at 15-11. The Rams tallied six of the next seven points to take their first lead of the night (17-16). Neal accounted for the Falcons' next three points, tying the set at 17, bringing Air Force within one at 18-19, and sparking a four-point run that returned the lead to Air Force. Following Neal's third kill at the 19-21 mark, Air Force took the 22-21 lead behind a Russ/Scires block, a Messenger kill and a Reinkensmeyer ace. The Rams retook the lead two plays later and, despite a late set-tying score by the Falcons at 23-all, claimed the 25-23 victory.

Russ struck first in the second set after a long opening rally, while Scires accounted for a pair of set-tying kills (4-4, 5-5). A score by Tschuor put Air Force up 6-5, but Colorado State used a 14-2 run to blow the game open and take a 19-8 lead. A block from Scires and Messenger put the Falcons in double figures (10-20) and, despite kills from Harvey (two) and junior Sarah Markwardt, the Rams rolled to the 25-16 win.

The Rams registered the first two points of the third set, but Harvey (solo block) and Markwardt (service ace) quickly tied the set two plays later. Backed by three points from Russ (kill, solo block, assisted block with Scires), a Messenger kill and a Reinkensmeyer ace, Air Force used a 7-1 run to take a five-point advantage at the 9-5 mark. Colorado State tied the set at 10 and added three of the next four points to take a 13-11 lead. Air Force benefitted from four CSU errors to retake the advantage at 16-15, but another 6-1 run by the Rams quickly pushed the Falcons into a 21-17 deficit. Messenger and Neal added scores, but Colorado State completed the sweep with the 25-20 victory.

Air Force returns to the Academy on Saturday (Oct. 30) to host Wyoming at 1:00 p.m. (MT).

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Players Mentioned

Allie Griffith

Joi Harvey

Sarah Markwardt

BrookeLyn Messenger

Savannah Neal

Caroline Reinkensmeyer

Mac Russ

Aaryn Scires

Ella Tschuor