Air Force Academy

Oct. 1, 2011

Box Score

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Freshman Victoria Foster recorded a career-best 16 kills, as the Air Force volleyball team dropped a close 3-0 decision to TCU in Mountain West action on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Academy. Foster and sophomore Cami Richan combined for 28 of the team's 42 kills in a 25-20, 25-15, 27-25 loss to the visiting Horned Frogs.

Foster, who matched her career high for kills in a match, led all players with 16 kills. Richan added 12, while freshman Ayesha Hein recorded seven kills for a team-leading .333 hitting percentage (7k-3e-12a). Hein, Foster (16k-7e-37a, .243) and Richan (12k-4e-40a, .200) all hit over .200 in the match, as the Falcons combined to hit at a clip of .179 (42k-21e-117a) ... its best percentage of the conference season.

"Victoria lit it up today," second-year head coach Matt McShane said. "It was also a good game for Ayesha and Cami. I think those three did a really nice job."

Not only did Richan account for 12 of the Falcons' kills, she also posted a pair of service aces to lead all players. Freshman Hillary Keltner assisted on 23 kills, while sophomore Josalynn Wise recorded 14 helpers and one ace.

Defensively, junior Maiya Perich accounted for 13 digs, while freshman Emma Dridge added 10. Hein paced the team with a pair of assisted blocks, while Foster and classmate Kristen Holt each tallied one.

"We fought hard and TCU is a good team," McShane added. "I think it's the best we've played (in conference). We're getting close to breaking through and getting some wins in a row."

A kill from Hein opened the third set and the programs traded point-for-point. Air Force collected scores from Richan, Foster and freshman Brooke Pottle, while another kill from Hein put the Falcons up 11-10. The Frogs used a 5-0 run to advance out to 15-11, but back-to-back kills from Foster helped Air Force tie the set at 18. The teams resumed trading points, with Foster (19-all), Hein (20-all) and Richan (22-all, 23-all) accounting for the equalizers. Air Force went up 24-23 (TCU error) and 25-24 (kill by Richan), but TCU scored the final three points for the tough 27-25 victory.

Air Force remains at the Academy for its longest homestand of the season, hosting conference newcomer Boise State on Saturday, Oct. 8, in its only match of the week. The game will be televised live by The MountainWest Sports Network (The Mtn.).