Wednesday, September 16
Denver, CO
6:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
4-5,0-0Mountain West
0
at
3
Denver
7-3,0-0WCC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 20 | 17 | 25 | 0 |
| Denver | 25 | 25 | 27 | 3 |
Photo by: Gary DeVore, Cadet Wing Media
Falcons Drop Road Match to Pioneers in Denver
9/16/2026 10:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
DENVER -- The Air Force volleyball team dropped a three-set decision to in-state foe Denver this evening (Sept. 16), as it opened the final weekend of non-conference action with a 20-25, 17-25, 25-27 loss to the host Pioneers at Hamilton Gym in Denver.
Air Force had an impressive night on the block, as multiple stops from five different Falcons helped to out-block the Pioneers by a 9-5 margin. Junior Grace Fiaseu and freshman Kennedy Simon both accounted for five stops (all assisted) on the night, while sophomore Zoe Kirby added four assisted blocks and the freshmen duo of Karina Mendivil and Jenness Orcutt both helped out on two.
In addition to their defensive numbers, Mendivil posted a team-high 11 kills, while Fiaseu served up two of the Falcons' three service aces. Junior Mia Loyd and sophomore Sam Pope split setting duties, with 16 helpers apiece, while freshman Ella Vogel led Air Force with 10 digs.
The Pioneers jumped out to a fast 4-1 lead and doubled the Falcons up by the 8-4 mark, but the young Air Force squad quickly pulled within one (7-8) behind back-to-back kills from Mendivil and an ace from Fiaseu. The freshman teamed up with Kirby for the Falcons' next three points, as they each put down a kill and combined for a block to keep the Falcons within one (10-11). Denver scored five-straight points, before Simon stopped the run with a pair of scores (kill, block with Fiaseu). Trailing by six (12-18), Air Force rattled off seven of the next nine scores to pull within one at the 19-20 mark. Mendivil accounted for two points during that run, putting down a kill and teaming up with Kirby for a block, while Simon, Orcutt and junior Lainie Stapleton all added kills. Following a Denver timeout, the Pioneers scored five of the final six points to take the opening set by a 25-20 margin.
Air Force traded scores with Denver in the opening minutes of the second set, before kills from Fiaseu, Mendivil (two) and Orcutt helped Air Force take a 9-7 lead. The Pioneers evened the set at nine and took the lead on the next play, but a block from Simon and Mendivil returned the advantage to Air Force at the 11-10 mark. Despite a pair of scores from Fiaseu (kill, block with Simon) Denver retook the lead and used a 5-1 run to open the set and take a 20-14 lead. Mendivil and Kirby added kills, but the Pioneers took the second set by a 25-17 margin.
Junior Bella Christensen posted her first kill of the season during a 3-4 start to the third set, but the Falcons found themselves with an early 4-8 deficit. Fiaseu added another ace, while Orcutt, Kirby and Mendivil all accounted for kills, but Denver extended its advantage to seven at the 15-8 mark. The Falcons answered with seven of the next 10 points to pull within two (16-18) – a run that included kills from multiple kills from both Simon and Fiaseu, as well as pair of Orcutt blocks (Fiaseu and Kirby on the assists). Denver pushed its lead to five at the 23-18 mark, but the Falcons stormed back to the set at 23-all. Simon teamed up with Kirby and Fiaseu for a pair of blocks during the Falcons' 5-0 run, while Christensen added another kill and freshman Aylani Correa put down an ace. Fiaseu kept the score even at 24 and an errant Denver attack gave Air Force its first lead of the match at 25-24, but when the Falcons' apparent, set-winning point was overturned by replay, Denver scored the final two points for the 27-25 win.
The Falcons now head to Greeley for the final two days of the UNC Volleyball Invitational, Presented by DoubleTree Greeley Lincoln Park. Air Force will face former conference opponent Utah tomorrow (Sept. 17) afternoon in a 3:00 p.m. (MT) meeting at Bank of American Arena.
Air Force had an impressive night on the block, as multiple stops from five different Falcons helped to out-block the Pioneers by a 9-5 margin. Junior Grace Fiaseu and freshman Kennedy Simon both accounted for five stops (all assisted) on the night, while sophomore Zoe Kirby added four assisted blocks and the freshmen duo of Karina Mendivil and Jenness Orcutt both helped out on two.
In addition to their defensive numbers, Mendivil posted a team-high 11 kills, while Fiaseu served up two of the Falcons' three service aces. Junior Mia Loyd and sophomore Sam Pope split setting duties, with 16 helpers apiece, while freshman Ella Vogel led Air Force with 10 digs.
The Pioneers jumped out to a fast 4-1 lead and doubled the Falcons up by the 8-4 mark, but the young Air Force squad quickly pulled within one (7-8) behind back-to-back kills from Mendivil and an ace from Fiaseu. The freshman teamed up with Kirby for the Falcons' next three points, as they each put down a kill and combined for a block to keep the Falcons within one (10-11). Denver scored five-straight points, before Simon stopped the run with a pair of scores (kill, block with Fiaseu). Trailing by six (12-18), Air Force rattled off seven of the next nine scores to pull within one at the 19-20 mark. Mendivil accounted for two points during that run, putting down a kill and teaming up with Kirby for a block, while Simon, Orcutt and junior Lainie Stapleton all added kills. Following a Denver timeout, the Pioneers scored five of the final six points to take the opening set by a 25-20 margin.
Air Force traded scores with Denver in the opening minutes of the second set, before kills from Fiaseu, Mendivil (two) and Orcutt helped Air Force take a 9-7 lead. The Pioneers evened the set at nine and took the lead on the next play, but a block from Simon and Mendivil returned the advantage to Air Force at the 11-10 mark. Despite a pair of scores from Fiaseu (kill, block with Simon) Denver retook the lead and used a 5-1 run to open the set and take a 20-14 lead. Mendivil and Kirby added kills, but the Pioneers took the second set by a 25-17 margin.
Junior Bella Christensen posted her first kill of the season during a 3-4 start to the third set, but the Falcons found themselves with an early 4-8 deficit. Fiaseu added another ace, while Orcutt, Kirby and Mendivil all accounted for kills, but Denver extended its advantage to seven at the 15-8 mark. The Falcons answered with seven of the next 10 points to pull within two (16-18) – a run that included kills from multiple kills from both Simon and Fiaseu, as well as pair of Orcutt blocks (Fiaseu and Kirby on the assists). Denver pushed its lead to five at the 23-18 mark, but the Falcons stormed back to the set at 23-all. Simon teamed up with Kirby and Fiaseu for a pair of blocks during the Falcons' 5-0 run, while Christensen added another kill and freshman Aylani Correa put down an ace. Fiaseu kept the score even at 24 and an errant Denver attack gave Air Force its first lead of the match at 25-24, but when the Falcons' apparent, set-winning point was overturned by replay, Denver scored the final two points for the 27-25 win.
The Falcons now head to Greeley for the final two days of the UNC Volleyball Invitational, Presented by DoubleTree Greeley Lincoln Park. Air Force will face former conference opponent Utah tomorrow (Sept. 17) afternoon in a 3:00 p.m. (MT) meeting at Bank of American Arena.
Players Mentioned
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
USAFA
Denver
Kills
36
55
Errors
14
18
Attempts
119
133
Hitting %
.185
.278
Points
48.0
61.0
Assists
34
51
Aces
3
1
Blocks
9
5
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
5
Aces
2
Blocks
5
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Tuesday, September 15
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Friday, September 11
Thursday, September 10
