Falcons Hold Off Nevada for 3-2 Victory

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Highlighted by a season-high 18.0 blocks, the Air Force volleyball team held off a late comeback by Nevada this morning (Oct. 29), as it closed the month with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Wolfpack. Air Force claimed the thrilling 25-21, 26-24, 19-25, 24-26, 15-13 win for their third-straight win at Cadet East Gym.

The Falcons out-blocked the Wolfpack 18-11 – the Falcons' five solo and 26 assisted stops matching the season-high 18.0 performance they first recorded earlier this season against CSUN. Sophomore Mac Russ recorded her first double-digit blocking performance, as she accounted for 11 stops, including a career-best three solo putbacks. Junior Joi Harvey added seven blocks (two solo, five assisted), while freshman Savanah Johnson tallied five (all assisted), junior Aaryn Scires and senior Sarah Markwardt both assisted on three blocks and junior Caroline Reinkensmeyer added a pair.

Harvey also led the Falcons in hitting with 16 kills on .560 hitting, while Reinkensmeyer recorded her seventh double-double of the year with team-leading totals in assists (38) and digs (career-high 19). Reinkensmeyer was also one of four Falcons to tally a service ace on the day, joining Markwardt, freshman Ashley Bible and senior BrookeLyn Messenger.

It was a back-and-forth affair that included 35 ties and 16 lead changes. Air Force and Nevada were nearly identical in kills (54-53) and digs (66-65), while the Wolfpack out-aced the Falcons 7-4 and Air Force held the advantage in blocking and hitting (.137-.106).

Nevada jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead, but a pair of kills from Messenger and a pair of scores from Johnson (kill, block with Russ) helped Air Force close the gap and take a 5-4 lead. Another 4-1 stretch from the Wolfpack allowed the visitors to retake the lead (9-8) and the teams traded the next several points, with Russ and Markwardt accounting for set-tying kills. With a kill and an ace, Markwardt helped Air Force advance out to a three-point lead (14-11), while three points from Messenger (two kills, service ace) helped pushed the Falcons' lead out to six (20-14). Nevada pulled within three, but kills from Reinkensmeyer, Harvey (two) and Johnson helped Air Force take the 25-21 victory.

Reinkensmeyer opened the second set with a service ace, while back-to-back strikes from Messenger during a 4-1 run helped the Falcons take an early 5-3 lead. Nevada responded with its own 4-1 run, a stretch broken up only by a solo block from Harvey. The junior added a kill to tie the set at seven and spark an 8-3 run by the Falcons that finished at 14-10 and included a kill and solo block by Russ. Nevada pulled within one (15-14) after another quick run and eventually tied the set at 17 and retook the lead on the next point. A kill from Harvey tied the set at 18, while a kill and block from Russ highlighted a four-point swing that gave Air Force a 21-18 lead. Nevada again closed the gap to tie the set at 24, but a Johnson/Harvey block secured the 26-24 win for the Falcons.

Nevada tallied six of the first seven points to start the third set, before Air Force scored five of the next six to pull within two (6-8). Russ and Reinkensmeyer registered kills and teamed up for a block to keep the Falcons within two (11-13), while three-straight points from Harvey (assisted block with Johnson, kill, solo block) brought Air Force within one (15-16). The Wolfpack responded with the next five points and, despite kills from, Harvey and Bible, kept the contest going with a 25-19 win.

A quick 3-1 start by the Wolfpack was quickly negated by pair of points from Harvey and Scires, as the former opened with a pair of kills and the latter added a strike and teamed up for a block with Russ (5-4). Following a tie at five, the teams traded the next 10 points, with Harvey accounting for three of the Falcons' five scores that ended in a 10-all tie. Nevada tallied back-to-back points to take a two-score lead and eventually pushed its advantage to five (17-12). Russ stopped the run with a kill and, although Markwardt and Harvey each tallied multiple scores to even the score at 23 and Bible added a strike to put Air Force at match-point (24-23), the Wolfpack scored the final three to claim the 26-24 win.

Nevada raced out to a 6-2 lead in the deciding set, but Harvey (two kills) and Russ (solo block) put down scores to help Air Force tie the set at seven. The Wolfpack scored five of the next six to take another four-point advantage (12-8), but the Falcons responded again. Russ tallied a kill and solo block, while a successful challenge by head coach Keith Barnett put the Falcons ahead 13-12 – their first lead of the set. The Wolfpack evened the score on the next play, but Bible put down back-to-back kills to give Air Force the set (15-13) and the match (3-2).

Air Force caps its longest homestand of the conference season on Tuesday (Nov. 1), when it hosts New Mexico in a quick turnaround rematch at Cadet East Gym at 6:00 p.m. (MT).

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Team Stats

Joi Harvey

Sarah Markwardt

BrookeLyn Messenger

Mac Russ

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