Air Force Academy

Oct. 20, 2006

Final Stats

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Air Force women's volleyball team opened the second half of the Mountain West Conference season with a 3-0 loss to New Mexico on Friday, Oct. 20, in Albuquerque. Despite a match-best 13 kills from freshman Katie Batchelder, the Falcons dropped consecutive 30-25, 30-24, 30-17 matches to the host Lobos.

Air Force jumped out to an early lead, taking the first five points of the game behind serving from junior Rebecca Gerton who tallied a service during the early run.  Two more errors by the Lobos gave the Falcons a 7-1 lead. Batchelder tallied a pair of kills, while classmate Michelle Harrington set down another as Air Force held the 15-8 lead at the midway point. The Lobos clawed their way back into the match, despite a kill and an ace by Gerton.  New Mexico took tied the game at 22 and took the lead on the ensuing point. The Lobos closed out the game with an 8-2 run to close out the game, en route to the 30-25 victory.

The Falcons and Lobos traded points in the opening minutes of the second stanza. Batchelder and Harrington each put down kills, while fellow freshman Jocelyn Booker added a pair to keep the score tight. Although New Mexico held the slightest of leads, Air Force played hard, pressuring every ball and following through on several long rallies.  Gerton earned a kill and assisted on a block with sophomore Jasamine Pettie to tie the score at 13.  A block by Kristina Stewart gave Air Force its first lead (14-13) since the opening point. Again, the two squads traded points until UNM used an 8-1 run to cement its lead.  Batchelder and Stewart each tallied a pair of kills, but New Mexico took the game 30-24.

The third game began very similar to the first, except the teams were reversed.  Despite an ace by junior Morgan Dolan, the Falcons found themselves in a quick 7-2 hole.  Batchelder added two kills and an ace, but Air Force remained in a 15-3 deficit.  Harrington and Gerton teamed up for a block which sparked the Falcons, who collected five of the next six points. Gerton and senior Tara Dunn each added a kill, while Stewart served up an ace.  Gerton also teamed up with Pettie for an assisted block. Following a timeout, the Lobos regained their lead.  Despite kills from Stewart, Batchelder and Harrington, Air Force fell to New Mexico 30-17.

Batchelder led all scorers with 13 kills, while Gerton was second on the team with eight.  Sophomore Ellen Bina registered a match-best 21 digs, while junior Kim Kallabis accumulated 27 assists.  Gerton lead the Falcons with two service aces, while tying Harrington for the team-lead with a pair of assisted blocks.

Air Force continues conference action on the road tomorrow (Oct. 21) at TCU. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas.