Saturday, October 8
USAFA
1:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
8-10,0-6Mountain West
2
vs
3
UNLV
14-3,5-1Mountain West
1
2
3
4
5
F
UNLV
24
21
25
25
16
3
Air Force
26
25
17
13
14
2
Photo by: Josh Armstrong
Falcons Drop Five-Set Heartbreaker to UNLV
10/8/2022 6:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Caroline Reinkensmeyer tallied a career-high 50 assists in the Falcons' five-setter with UNLV.
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force volleyball team suffered a five-set heartbreaker to UNLV this afternoon (Oct. 8), as it dropped a 3-2 decision to UNLV in a brief stopover at the Academy. After winning the first two sets 26-24 and 25-21, the Falcons were unable to hold off a comeback by the Rebels, who claimed the final three sets by 25-17, 25-13, 16-14 margins.
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Backed by 15 kills on .364 hitting from junior Joi Harvey, three Falcons recorded double-digit strikes, as senior Sarah Markwardt and sophomore Mac Russ posted tallies of 12 and 10, respectively. Markwardt added 10 digs for her second double-double of the year, while sophomore Murphy Riggs and junior Caroline Reinkensmeyer tied for the team lead in digs with 17 apiece. Like Markwardt, Reinkensmeyer also earned a double-double – her fifth of the year – as she registered a career-high 50 assists. Russ and freshman Savanah Johnson each accounted for five blocks on the night, with Russ' total including a pair of solo stops. Junior Allie Griffith – one of five Falcons to register a service ace on the day – rounded out the Falcons' list of stat leaders with a pair of scores from the serving line.
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The team stats were nearly identical in kills (Air Force 59, UNLV 60) and blocks (Air Force 9, UNLV 10), while both teams accounted for six aces each.
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The Rebels scored the first four points of the match, before Russ put down a kill and teamed up with Johnson on a block during back-to-back plays (2-4). Air Force earned kills from Markwardt (one), Harvey (three) and Riggs (one), but UNLV double-up the Falcons at the 14-7 mark and maintained that margin at 17-10. Griffith served up a pair of aces to cut the Falcons' deficit to four (13-17), while a solo stop from Russ and kills from Harvey, Johnson and Markwardt brought the Falcons within two (18-20). Markwardt cut into that margin with an ace (20-21), but the Rebels scored the next three to reach set point at 24-20. Harvey stopped the Run with a kill, while strikes from Russ and senior BrookeLyn Messenger tied the set at 24. The Falcons took their first lead of the set off an error by the Rebels and junior Savannah Neal secured the 26-24 comeback win with a service ace.
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Markwardt opened the scoring in the second and added another to keep the Falcons within one (4-5). UNLV pushed its lead out to four at the 10-6 mark, but another Johnson/Russ block cut the Falcons' deficit in half (10-12). The Rebels pushed their advantage to five (17-12), but Air Force responded to even the set at 18. Messenger tallied a kill and solo block during that run, while Harvey, Russ and Johnson all tallied kills. Another strike from Russ gave Air Force its first lead since the beginning moments of the set, while another pair of Russ kills gave the Falcons a 22-20 lead. UNLV pulled within one on the next play, but a kill from Johnson – and back-to-back strikes from Markwardt – gave Air Force the 25-21 victory.
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UNLV took an early 3-1 lead to start the third and, despite a pair of kills from Harvey, extended their advantage to five at the 9-4 mark. Freshman Ashley Bible stopped the Rebels' run with a kill and Johnson added another kill, but UNLV used another long run to take an 11-point lead over the Falcons (20-9). Markwardt put the Falcons in double figures, while a pair of Bible kills bookended a Harvey strike during a 5-0 run by Air Force (14-20). Bible added one more kill, but UNLV took the set by a 25-17 margin.
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A kill from Markwardt broke up a 4-1 start by the Rebels in the fourth, while the senior added a second strike and teamed up with Harvey for a block to account for the Falcons' first three points (3-6). Russ put down a kill to bring Air Force within two (5-7), but that was as close as Air Force could get. UNLV quickly doubled up the Falcons (18-9), as kills from Bible and Messenger provided the only Air Force offense in that stretch. Messenger added a kill and service ace, but UNLV evened the match with the 25-13 win.
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Markwardt again opened the scoring for Air Force, as she put down a kill for the first point of the deciding set. An ace for Reinkensmeyer and kills from Russ and Johnson helped Air Force take a 4-2 lead. The Falcons maintained their lead (6-4) following back-to-back kills from Messenger, but UNLV scored four of the next five points to hold an 8-7 lead at the switch. Markwardt added another pair of kills, but the Rebels held a two-point lead at match point (14-12). After forcing UNLV into an attacking error, Johnson and Harvey teamed up for a block that evened the set at 14. However, the Falcons' fifth set comeback fell short, as UNLV scored the final two points for the 16-14 victory.
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After today's quick stop at the Academy, the Falcons head back out on the road next week for matches at Nevada (Thursday, Oct. 13) and San Jose State (Saturday, Oct. 15).
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Backed by 15 kills on .364 hitting from junior Joi Harvey, three Falcons recorded double-digit strikes, as senior Sarah Markwardt and sophomore Mac Russ posted tallies of 12 and 10, respectively. Markwardt added 10 digs for her second double-double of the year, while sophomore Murphy Riggs and junior Caroline Reinkensmeyer tied for the team lead in digs with 17 apiece. Like Markwardt, Reinkensmeyer also earned a double-double – her fifth of the year – as she registered a career-high 50 assists. Russ and freshman Savanah Johnson each accounted for five blocks on the night, with Russ' total including a pair of solo stops. Junior Allie Griffith – one of five Falcons to register a service ace on the day – rounded out the Falcons' list of stat leaders with a pair of scores from the serving line.
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The team stats were nearly identical in kills (Air Force 59, UNLV 60) and blocks (Air Force 9, UNLV 10), while both teams accounted for six aces each.
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The Rebels scored the first four points of the match, before Russ put down a kill and teamed up with Johnson on a block during back-to-back plays (2-4). Air Force earned kills from Markwardt (one), Harvey (three) and Riggs (one), but UNLV double-up the Falcons at the 14-7 mark and maintained that margin at 17-10. Griffith served up a pair of aces to cut the Falcons' deficit to four (13-17), while a solo stop from Russ and kills from Harvey, Johnson and Markwardt brought the Falcons within two (18-20). Markwardt cut into that margin with an ace (20-21), but the Rebels scored the next three to reach set point at 24-20. Harvey stopped the Run with a kill, while strikes from Russ and senior BrookeLyn Messenger tied the set at 24. The Falcons took their first lead of the set off an error by the Rebels and junior Savannah Neal secured the 26-24 comeback win with a service ace.
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Markwardt opened the scoring in the second and added another to keep the Falcons within one (4-5). UNLV pushed its lead out to four at the 10-6 mark, but another Johnson/Russ block cut the Falcons' deficit in half (10-12). The Rebels pushed their advantage to five (17-12), but Air Force responded to even the set at 18. Messenger tallied a kill and solo block during that run, while Harvey, Russ and Johnson all tallied kills. Another strike from Russ gave Air Force its first lead since the beginning moments of the set, while another pair of Russ kills gave the Falcons a 22-20 lead. UNLV pulled within one on the next play, but a kill from Johnson – and back-to-back strikes from Markwardt – gave Air Force the 25-21 victory.
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UNLV took an early 3-1 lead to start the third and, despite a pair of kills from Harvey, extended their advantage to five at the 9-4 mark. Freshman Ashley Bible stopped the Rebels' run with a kill and Johnson added another kill, but UNLV used another long run to take an 11-point lead over the Falcons (20-9). Markwardt put the Falcons in double figures, while a pair of Bible kills bookended a Harvey strike during a 5-0 run by Air Force (14-20). Bible added one more kill, but UNLV took the set by a 25-17 margin.
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A kill from Markwardt broke up a 4-1 start by the Rebels in the fourth, while the senior added a second strike and teamed up with Harvey for a block to account for the Falcons' first three points (3-6). Russ put down a kill to bring Air Force within two (5-7), but that was as close as Air Force could get. UNLV quickly doubled up the Falcons (18-9), as kills from Bible and Messenger provided the only Air Force offense in that stretch. Messenger added a kill and service ace, but UNLV evened the match with the 25-13 win.
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Markwardt again opened the scoring for Air Force, as she put down a kill for the first point of the deciding set. An ace for Reinkensmeyer and kills from Russ and Johnson helped Air Force take a 4-2 lead. The Falcons maintained their lead (6-4) following back-to-back kills from Messenger, but UNLV scored four of the next five points to hold an 8-7 lead at the switch. Markwardt added another pair of kills, but the Rebels held a two-point lead at match point (14-12). After forcing UNLV into an attacking error, Johnson and Harvey teamed up for a block that evened the set at 14. However, the Falcons' fifth set comeback fell short, as UNLV scored the final two points for the 16-14 victory.
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After today's quick stop at the Academy, the Falcons head back out on the road next week for matches at Nevada (Thursday, Oct. 13) and San Jose State (Saturday, Oct. 15).
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Team Stats
UNLV
USAFA
Kills
60
59
Errors
25
29
Attempts
166
169
Hitting %
.211
.178
Points
76
74
Assists
53
56
Aces
6
6
Blocks
10
9
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
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