Air Force Academy

Nov. 6, 2010

Box Score

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Senior Julia Hansen hit a team-high .400, including a perfect four-for-four in the first set, as the Air Force volleyball team dropped a three-set contest to No. 14 Colorado State on Saturday, Nov. 6, in Fort Collins, Colo. The Falcons, who played tight with the Rams during the start of the first two sets, fell in 25-17, 25-17, 25-9 sets.

Hansen put down the first point of the game, while freshman Annalyse Schmitt tallied a kill that evened the match at three. Air Force continued to hang tough with the nationally-ranked Rams, tying the score at five off of a solo block from Hansen. The senior backed up the block with a kill that tied the game at six. Air Force took a two-point lead (9-7) off of a kill from Schmitt and a service ace from senior Caroline Kurtz, forcing the Rams to call a timeout. Coming out of the break, freshman Cami Richan put down a kill to five the Falcons a 10-7 lead. The Rams came back to tie the set at 10, but senior Nichole Stilwell added a kill to keep the Falcons within one (12-11). Colorado State used a 11-2 run to increase its lead to 22-14. Kurtz added a kill, while Hansen put down another pair, as the Falcons fell 25-17.

Hansen, who was a perfect four-for-four in the first game, scored the first point of the second set to spark an early run for the Falcons. Senior Emily Frick recorded a kill and sophomore Maiya Perich added a service ace as Air Force took an early 4-1 lead. Colorado State used an 8-1 run to jump ahead 9-5. Frick and Stilwell recorded kills, while Kurtz added a kill and assisted on a block with Hansen to help pull the Falcons within two at 12-10. CSU scored the next four points to increase its lead to six. Kurtz and Richan combined for kills on five of the squad's next six points, as Air Force pulled within four at 20-16. Despite a kill from Kurtz, the Rams closed out the set with a 5-1 run to take the 25-17 victory.

Hansen recorded a team-best .400 hitting percentage and three blocks. In addition to connecting on five of 10 attempts (while committing just a single error), Hansen recorded a solo block and assisted on two others. Kurtz paced the Falcons with nine kills - just one off the match leader, while Perich posted a team-high nine digs. Kurtz and Perich also accounted for a pair of service aces, while Hellmann assisted on 23 of the team's 27 kills.

"Everybody is working hard, but working hard isn't good enough anymore," assistant coach Marc Swindle said. "We're going to have to play better against good teams."

Air Force returns to the Academy next weekend to host Utah and BYU in Mountain West Conference action for the final time. The Falcons will face Utah on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m., before taking on BYU on Saturday, Nov. 13, at noon.