Air Force Academy

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force volleyball team officially concluded the 2005 season when it celebrated the season with the annual end-of-the-year banquet on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at The Academy Hotel in Colorado Springs. The coaching staff, headed up by head coach Penny Lucas-White, handed out the yearly team awards, while recapping an eventful season.

Senior team captain Kristin Hamlett (Escondido, Calif.) was named the Most Valuable Player for the second straight year, while classmate Rebecca Gallegos (Las Vegas, Nev.) earned the Best All-Around award. Sophomore Brooke Akers (Desert Hot Springs, Calif.) earned the Unsung Hero award, while classmate Kim Kallabis (Camino, Calif.) claimed the Coaches' Award. Freshman Jasamine Pettie (Baton Rouge, La.) picked up a pair of awards, earning the Rookie of the Year and Most Improved awards.

The Falcons posted a 5-28 overall record, while tallying a 1-15 slate in the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons earned victories over South Carolina State, Butler, Utah Valley State and The Citadel in the non-conference slate, while picking up an impressive three-game sweep of MWC-newcomer TCU in league play. Air Force was led by Akers and Hamlett. The duo climbed up all three of the Division I blocking records, as well as the single-season kills list. Akers concluded the season second on the solo blocks (34) and total blocks (99) lists, while finishing third with 65 assisted blocks. Despite missing 20 games with an injury, Hamlett ranked third (solo-33), fourth (total-97) and fifth (assisted-64) on the single-season blocking lists. In addition, they both placed among the top-10 for single-season kills. Also, senior Carly Siefken surpassed the 1,000 assists plateau this season, finishing fourth on the Division I single-season list with 1,097.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Kristin Hamlett
Despite missing 20 games with an ankle injury, Hamlett cruised into the program's all-time lists with 1178 career kills. She is just the second Division I athlete to etch her name on the program's all-time list. She also made her way up the single-season blocking records with 32 solo (third), 65 assisted (sixth) and 95 total (fourth) blocks. She averaged a team-best 3.27 kills per game (330 total), while also leading the way with 0.96 blocks per game. This is the second straight season that Hamlett has earned the team MVP award.

BEST ALL-AROUND: Rebecca Gallegos
For the second straight season, Gallegos was named the team's best all-around player. Third on the team in kills-per-game with 2.18, Gallegos was also a defensive threat. She collected 230 digs, which is not only the second-best on the team, but the seventh-highest total in Division I history. She also served up 21 service aces, while accumulating 37 blocks.

UNSUNG HERO: Brooke Akers
Akers not only led the team with a .238 hitting percentage, but she also topped the squad with 34 solo, 65 assisted and 99 total blocks. Playing in every game, Akers amassed 367 kills -- the fourth-best single season record in the Academy's Division I history. At the conference tournament, Akers produced the best kills-per-game average in the league at 4.75.

COACHES' AWARD: Kim Kallabis
Last year's top rookie, Kallabis led the team with 34 service aces, while posting 0.77 assists per game. Her 34 aces is the seventh-best single season total in the Academy's Division I history. She was also one of five Falcons to clear the 200-digs plateau. Despite her 5-5 frame. Kallabis recorded the first solo and assisted blocks of her collegiate career at Colorado State.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR & MOST IMPROVED: Jasamine Pettie
Making 23 starts as a freshman, Pettie concluded her inaugural season with 93 kills, 12 assists, 12 digs and 33 blocks. In the match against San Diego State, Pettie led the team with a .471 hitting percentage, backed by a career-best 10 kills on 17 attempts, while committing just two errors.