Thursday, September 18
USAFA
6:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
0
vs
3
Denver
Photo by: Trevor Cokley
Falcons Suffer Straight-Set Loss to Denver
9/18/2025 9:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force volleyball team dropped tough three-set decision to in-state rival Denver this evening (Sept. 18), as they opened the Into the Blue Invitational at the Academy. With the 21-25, 22-25, 23-25 loss to the visiting Pioneers, the Falcons fell to 8-2 on the season.
Sophomore Mia Loyd, who led all setters with 27 assists, accounted for three of the Falcons' seven aces, while freshman Sophie Bridges added a pair. The trio of senior Ashley Bible, classmate Jordan Suan and sophomore Alysa Walker all accounted for team-high seven digs, while Bible – who led the team with nine kills – was one of four Falcons to recorded a pair of blocks (Bible – one solo, one assisted; senior Alex Hatchett – two assisted; sophomore Grace Fiaseu – two assisted; Loyd – two assisted).
Loyd kicked off the night with back-to-back aces, but the Pioneers rattled off the next four – and eight of the next 10 to send Air Force into an early timeout at the 4-8 mark. The Falcons responded with six of the next eight to tie the set at 10. Senior Savanah Johnson put down two kills during the run, while Walker and classmate Bella Christensen also put down kills for Air Force. A block from Bible and Hatchett broke the 10-all tie, while an ace from Fiaseu helped push the Falcons' advantage out to three (13-10). Air Force continued to lead, backed by a kill from Bible at 14-11 and a Christensen/Hatchett block at 15-13. Denver evened the set at 17, and again at 19, during an 11-2 run that helped cement the 25-21 victory.
The Falcons again scored the first two points of a set, as Air Force started the second with a Bible block and a Walker kill. The Falcons quickly pushed their advantage out to 11-5 behind a pair of scores from Fiaseu (two kills) and Walker (kill, ace). Denver pulled within two at the 13-11 mark and eventually tied the set at 17. Hatchett put down a kill, while a successful challenge from head coach Macey Donathan gave Air Fore at 20-19 lead, but the Pioneers scored six of the next eight points for the 25-19 win.
Loyd kicked off the third set with another ace, while kills from four different Falcons (Bible, Hatchett, Christensen Fiaseu) and Bridges' second ace of the night gave Air Force an early 6-3 advantage. Denver responded with six of the next seven to take a 9-7 lead, before Loyd and Fiaseu stopped the run with a block. After Air Force tied the set at nine, the teams traded scores with the Falcons earning scores from Christensen, Walker and Hatchett. Another strike from the senior gave Air Force, as well as a kill from Bible, gave Air Force a 20-19 lead, but the Pioneers scored the next three to go up 22-20. Air Force score three of the next four to tie the set at 23, but Denver scored the final two points for the 25-23 win and the 3-0 sweep at Cadet East Gym.
The Falcons continue action at the Into the Blue Invitational tomorrow (Sept. 19), when they host Northern Colorado at 7:00 p.m. (MT). Prior to the match, which will see the debut of the team's new Space Force uniforms, Air Force will honor former head coach Matt McShane, who passed away late last year.
Sophomore Mia Loyd, who led all setters with 27 assists, accounted for three of the Falcons' seven aces, while freshman Sophie Bridges added a pair. The trio of senior Ashley Bible, classmate Jordan Suan and sophomore Alysa Walker all accounted for team-high seven digs, while Bible – who led the team with nine kills – was one of four Falcons to recorded a pair of blocks (Bible – one solo, one assisted; senior Alex Hatchett – two assisted; sophomore Grace Fiaseu – two assisted; Loyd – two assisted).
Loyd kicked off the night with back-to-back aces, but the Pioneers rattled off the next four – and eight of the next 10 to send Air Force into an early timeout at the 4-8 mark. The Falcons responded with six of the next eight to tie the set at 10. Senior Savanah Johnson put down two kills during the run, while Walker and classmate Bella Christensen also put down kills for Air Force. A block from Bible and Hatchett broke the 10-all tie, while an ace from Fiaseu helped push the Falcons' advantage out to three (13-10). Air Force continued to lead, backed by a kill from Bible at 14-11 and a Christensen/Hatchett block at 15-13. Denver evened the set at 17, and again at 19, during an 11-2 run that helped cement the 25-21 victory.
The Falcons again scored the first two points of a set, as Air Force started the second with a Bible block and a Walker kill. The Falcons quickly pushed their advantage out to 11-5 behind a pair of scores from Fiaseu (two kills) and Walker (kill, ace). Denver pulled within two at the 13-11 mark and eventually tied the set at 17. Hatchett put down a kill, while a successful challenge from head coach Macey Donathan gave Air Fore at 20-19 lead, but the Pioneers scored six of the next eight points for the 25-19 win.
Loyd kicked off the third set with another ace, while kills from four different Falcons (Bible, Hatchett, Christensen Fiaseu) and Bridges' second ace of the night gave Air Force an early 6-3 advantage. Denver responded with six of the next seven to take a 9-7 lead, before Loyd and Fiaseu stopped the run with a block. After Air Force tied the set at nine, the teams traded scores with the Falcons earning scores from Christensen, Walker and Hatchett. Another strike from the senior gave Air Force, as well as a kill from Bible, gave Air Force a 20-19 lead, but the Pioneers scored the next three to go up 22-20. Air Force score three of the next four to tie the set at 23, but Denver scored the final two points for the 25-23 win and the 3-0 sweep at Cadet East Gym.
The Falcons continue action at the Into the Blue Invitational tomorrow (Sept. 19), when they host Northern Colorado at 7:00 p.m. (MT). Prior to the match, which will see the debut of the team's new Space Force uniforms, Air Force will honor former head coach Matt McShane, who passed away late last year.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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