Falcons Close Non-Conference Slate with 3-1 Loss to Utah Tech

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force volleyball team closed out the Into the Blue Invitational – and the non-conference season – with a 3-1 loss to Utah Tech this morning (Sept. 20) at the Academy. Despite a 19-kill outing from sophomore Alysa Walker, the Falcons fell 17-25, 18-25, 25-22, 21-25 to the visiting Trailblazers to finish the non-conference season with an 8-4 record.

Walker, one day after her first 20-kill performance, nearly reached that plateau again, as she accounted for 19 of the team's 50 kills. Sophomore Grace Fiaseu added eight kills, while classmate Brooksie Isham accounted for seven strikes in two sets during her season debut. In addition to her offensive performances, Walker was one of three Falcons to tally double-digit dig totals (11). Sophomore Mia Loyd added 12 digs to go along with 42 assists, while senior Jordan Suan led the team with 14 digs. Loyd also accounted for two of the team's four digs, while seniors Alex Hatchett and Savanah Johnson both accounted for a team-high four blocks (all assisted).

The Trailblazers jumped out to a fast 10-1 lead – a run only interrupted by a kill from junior Annamaria Ramos, before Air Force raced back to pull within two (11-13) behind a pair of kills from Walker, as well as strikes from Fiaseu, Loyd and senior Ashley Bible. Another kill from Bible kept the deficit at two (12-14), but Utah Tech responded with an 8-1 run. Fiaseu (kill, solo block) and Walker (two kills) added multiple points, but the Trailblazers rolled to the 25-17 win.

Utah Tech took an early 6-3 start to the second, despite another solo stop from Fiaseu and kills from Loyd and senior Savanah Johnson. Air Force pulled within one (5-6) behind back-to-back kills from Fiaseu and Walker. Another Walker strike maintained that margin (7-8), while a kill from Bible tied the set at nine. The Trailblazers retook the lead on the next play and, after trading points with the Falcons, opened up the set with an 11-2 run. Hatchett and Johnson teamed up for a block to stop the run and Walker added another kill, but Utah Tech claimed the 25-18 win.

Isham put down the Falcons' first offensive point of the third set (2-2), while a pair of kills from Walker helped Air Force take a 7-5 lead. The Falcons maintained their lead behind additional scores form Johnson, Isham and Walker (12-9), while another strike from Walker sent Air Force into the media timeout with a 15-11 lead. Loyd served up an ace coming out of the break, while a kill and block from Fiaseu (assisted with Johnson) pushed the Falcons' lead to five at 20-15. The Trailblazers pulled within one (20-19), but Walker scored three of Air Force's final five points to secure the 25-22 win.

Aces from Fiaseu and Loyd, as well as a kill and block from Hatchett (assisted with Johnson), helped the Falcons double up the Trailblazers by a 10-5 score. Utah Tech rebounded to pull within one (11-10), before back-to-back kills from Isham helped Air Force push its advantage back out (13-10). The sophomore added another kill to stop a Utah Tech run that evened the set at 13. The Trailblazers took a 16-15 lead, but Walker tied the set at 16. Isham, who recorded a solo stop to tie the score at 18, Johnson and Fiaseu added kills, but the Trailblazers scored four of the final six points for the 25-21 win.

With the non-conference season now complete, Air Force will turn its attention to the Mountain West. Conference action begins for the Falcons next Thursday (Sept. 25), when they host Nevada at 6:00 p.m. (MT) inside Cadet East Gym.

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