Falcons Fall to Marquette in Non-Conference Finale

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The Air Force volleyball team wrapped up the non-conference season this afternoon (Sept. 16), with a 3-0 loss to Marquette – a squad that is receiving votes in the latest AVCA rankings – on the Golden Eagles' home court (18-25, 11-25, 19-25).

Senior Aaryn Scires paced the squad with eight kills, while junior Ella Tschuor added seven. Senior Caroline Reinkensmeyer led the team with 14 assists and 13 digs, while senior Joi Harvey recorded a team-high three blocks (all assisted).

Marquette jumped out to a quick 5-1 start, before back-to-back kills from Tschuor helped Air Force pull within one (4-5). The Falcons stayed within one (7-8) after Tschuor teamed up with Harvey for a block, but the Golden Eagles used a 7-1 run to open the set (17-9). Scires and junior Mac Russ combined for three-straight points for the Falcons, with a kill (Scires), solo block (Russ) and assisted stop (Russ/Scires) cutting into that deficit (12-17). Harvey added another pair of blocks, teaming up with Tschuor (14-19) and sophomore Savanah Johnson (15-20), but Marquette took the opening set by a 25-18 score.

Kills from Russ and Tschuor kept the score close (3-4) in the opening of the second set, but Marquette used a 6-1 run to take a 10-4 advantage and send Air Force into a timeout. The teams traded points coming out of the break, with sophomore Ashley Bible, Scires and Tschuor registering kills for the Falcons (8-14). A strike from Harvey put the Falcons in double figures, but the Golden Eagles took the set 25-11.

Scires, Russ and freshman Annamaria Ramos got the Falcons off to a 3-0 start in the third, while another strike from Scires and a kill from Tschuor helped push their lead out to five (7-2). The Golden Eagles scored five-straight to tie the set at seven – a stretch Harvey stopped with a kill (8-7). The senior added another score for a nine-all tie, while Ramos (13-14) and Russ (14-15) kept the Falcons within one at 14-15. After Marquette broke the back-and-forth play with a 5-0 run, Scires (kill), sophomore Jordan Suan (ace) and Tschuor (kill) put down scores, but the home team finished the sweep with the 25-19 victory.

With the non-conference season complete, the Falcons (8-3) turn their attention toward the Mountain West. Conference action begins for Air Force next week, when it heads back out on the road to face Fresno State on Thursday, Sept. 21, and Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 23.

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.