Air Force Academy

Nov. 5, 2009

Box Score

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Despite a furious rally in the final set, Air Force dropped a 3-0 decision to Colorado State on Thursday, Nov. 5, in Fort Collins, Colo. After falling 25-17 and 25-12 during the first two sets, the Falcons dropped a narrow, hard-fought 27-25 decision in the final set to Colorado State, which at 19-4, are receiving votes in the weekly AVCA Coaches' Poll.

Colorado State took the first point, but senior Michelle Harrington earned the Falcons' first kill to even the set. Freshman Grace Konstanzer recorded a kill and junior Kelly Spencer tallied her first service ace, but the Falcons found themselves down by two at 8-6. A kill by junior Caroline Kurtz was the only Air Force point during an 11-1 run. Following Air Force's second timeout, junior Nichole Stilwell put down a pair of kills, while freshman Maiya Perich added a pair of service aces for her 24th and 25th of the season. Harrington and Kurtz each tacked another ace, but CSU took the set by a 25-17 margin.

Errors by Colorado State gave the Falcons a 3-2 lead to start the second set and Harrington put down a kill and assisted on a block with junior Julia Hansen to cause the Rams to call a timeout at the 6-5 mark. Following the one-minute break, Colorado State jumped out to a 20-9 advantage, with junior Emily Frick's kill providing the only Air Force offense during the stretch. Stilwell and classmate Jessica Hellmann added kills, but Air Force fell by a 25-12 margin.

Air Force saw Colorado State take the first three points of the final stanza, but quickly tied the set at four, thanks in part to a kill by Stilwell. An attack into the net by CSU gave Air Force the 6-5 lead, but Colorado State quickly responded. The two teams traded the lead, until kills by Konstanzer and Stilwell put the Falcons up 14-12. CSU regained the advantage at 16-14, but Air Force responded once again to take a 19-18 lead behind several impressive plays. Stilwell slipped the ball down the seam of a triple block, while a serve by Spencer clipped the net and dropped on the CSU side of the net for an ace. Colorado State evened the score at 21, but Air Force collected the next two points for a 23-21 lead. A kill by Stilwell put the Falcons at set-point, but CSU took four of the next five points for a hard-fought 27-25 victory - the 500th of CSU head coach Tom Hilbert's coaching career.

Stilwell led the Falcons with nine kills, while Harrington paced the Falcons with a hitting percentage of .071 (4k-3e-14a). Hellmann, who connected on three of four kill attempts, led the Falcons with 14 assists. Perich's three aces paced the Falcons (and equaled the entire total from CSU). The freshman now leads with team with 26 total aces.

Defensively, Hansen shined for the Falcons at the net, as she got a hand on three blocks. Harrington and Stilwell each added a pair of blocks, including a solo stop by Stilwell. Kurtz claimed a team high 12 digs, while Perich added seven.

Air Force remains on the road, traveling to Laramie, Wyo., on Saturday, Nov. 7, for its final road contest of the season. The Falcons will take on Wyoming in a match that is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., at the UniWyo Sports Complex.