Air Force Falls to Boise State

BOISE, Idaho – The Air Force volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Boise State this evening (Nov. 6) at Bronco Gym, falling in straight 14-25, 19-25, 15-25 sets to the host Broncos.

Senior Bailey Keith led the team with nine kills and .368 hitting (9-2-19), while tying for the team lead in blocks (two each) with freshman Mac Russ, who also accounted for the team's lone service ace. Sophomore Caroline Reinkensmeyer notched 10 of the team's 24 assists, while freshman Murphy Riggs rounded out the stat lineup with nine digs.

Keith (2-2) and sophomore Joi Harvey (3-3) put down set-tying kills to open the match, but the Broncos responded with six consecutive points to take a 9-3 advantage. Air Force benefitted from three-straight Boise State errors to pull within three (6-9), but the Broncos scored the next five to push its lead to eight at the 14-6 mark. Harvey and junior Sarah Markwardt stopped the run with a block, while Russ and junior BrookeLyn Messenger registered kills to put Air Force in double figures (10-15). Russ, Keith (two) and sophomore Aaryn Scires added kills, but Boise State took the opening set by a 25-14 mark.

Messenger and Scires put down the first two points of the second set, while strikes from Harvey and Keith helped the Falcons take an early 4-1 lead. The Broncos tied the set at four during an 11-2 run that sent Air Force into a timeout, trailing 6-12. Messenger stopped the run, while scores from Russ (ace) and sophomore Savannah Neal (kill) brought Air Force within (10-12). Boise State pushed its lead back to six (19-13), before Keith, Russ and Scires teamed up for the Falcons' first triple block of the year. Air Force earned additional scores from Keith, Neal, Messenger and Scires, but the Broncos halted a 3-0 run by the Falcons for the 25-19 win.

The Broncos took a 5-1 lead to start the third, but a kill from Scires brought Air Force within one (3-4). Keith put down a kill and assisted Russ on a block to tie the score at five, before adding another strike that evened the set at six. Boise State scored 10 of the next 11 points to take a 16-7 lead, before junior Taleah Cooper scored three of the next four points (two kills, block with Messenger) to put the Falcons in double figures (10-17). Keith added two more kills, but Boise State completed the sweep with a 25-15 victory.

The Falcons return to the Academy next week to begin a season-ending, three-match homestand at Cadet East Gym. Air Force will host San Diego State on Thursday, Nov. 11, before welcoming UNLV to the Academy on Saturday, Nov. 13.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.

Players Mentioned

Taleah Cooper

Joi Harvey

Bailey Keith

Sarah Markwardt

BrookeLyn Messenger

Savannah Neal

Caroline Reinkensmeyer

Murphy Riggs

Mac Russ

Aaryn Scires