Air Force Heads West for Two Conference Matches

The Air Force volleyball team returns to action this week, as it heads out on the road for Mountain West contests against UNLV and San Diego State. The Falcons open the two-match road trip against the Rebels in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 30, before heading to San Diego for a Saturday, Oct. 2, meeting against the Aztecs.

MATCH 13 | SEPT 30 | 6:30 PM PT
Air Force at UNLV
Las Vegas, Nev. | Cox Pavilion
Watch Live | Live Stats

MATCH 14 | OCT 2 | 1:00 PM PT
Air Force at San Diego State
San Diego, Calif. | Peterson Gym
Watch Live | Live Stats

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
UNLV, which received votes in the first five AVCA polls of the season and the defending MW champion, is 10-3 on the year – and 1-1 in conference play after splitting its opening weekend – a 0-3 loss at San Jose State, a 3-0 win at Nevada. San Diego State, 4-10 overall, is also 1-1 on the year after earning the same results over those two opponents last weekend (the Aztecs will host New Mexico before facing the Falcons). The Rebels' Mariena Hayden – the conference's preseason player of the year – leads the Mountain West in kills (3.74) and aces (0.69).

HISTORY 101
Air Force is 5-42 against UNLV and 8-38 against San Diego State in the all-time series, but haven't faced either team since 2019, as last season's contests were cancelled due to COVID. Not counting the break during the delayed 2020 season, the Falcons have claimed three of the last four decisions over San Diego State. Air Force has one victory on the Rebels' home court (2017) and one on the Aztecs' own floor (2015) – both five-set thrillers that included a 17-15 win in the fifth.

AIR FORCE IN THE CONFERENCE
Joi Harvey is ranked among the league's top five in blocks (second, 1.40) and hitting (fourth, .371). She is also one of two Falcons to hold top-10 marks in those statistical categories, as Taleah Cooper is listed ninth in hitting (.360) and Mac Russ is tied for 10th in blocks (1.00). Allie Griffith is mentioned among the league leaders in digs (10th), with a 3.21 per-set average, while the team is ranked fourth in blocks (2.36) and fifth in opponent hitting (.184).

WHAT'S ON DECK
The Falcons return to the Academy next week for a pair of conference contests against Boise State (Oct. 7) and Utah State (Oct. 9).

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