Sept. 3, 2008
The Air Force volleyball team continues its four-week, 14-match homestand this weekend with the Air Force Classic Volleyball Tournament on Friday (Sept. 5) and Saturday (Sept. 6). Air Force, which is 1-2 after the first weekend of action, will play four matches during the two-day tournament, facing Akron, Montana State, North Carolina State and UC-Davis.
Tournament Notes 02 
QUICK HITS
Air Force has never faced Akron, Montana State or North Carolina State. Air Force is 0-4 all-time against UC-Davis, but hasn't faced the Aggies since 1987 when both programs were at the NCAA Division II level.
PETTIE'S PRETTY SPECIAL
Senior Jasamine Pettie was named to the all-tournament of the Air Force Volleyball Labor Day Tournament. Over the weekend, Pettie tied for the team-lead with 25 kills, averaging 2.50 per set. She also tallied seven blocks (one solo, six assisted) during the three-match weekend. Pettie hit an impressive .429 to guide the Falcons to victory over Kennesaw State.
JUMPING RIGHT IN
Freshman Victoria Martinez was the starting libero in the Falcons' season opener on Aug. 31. It is the eighth straight year that Air Force has had a freshman in the starting rotation. She joins current teammates Nichole Stilwell (2007), Katie Batchelder (2006), Michelle Harrington (2006) and Kristina Stewart (2005) as players who made their collegiate debut in the starting rotation.
BLOCK IT OUT
After just three matches, junior Michelle Harrington has five solo blocks. Last year, in a season that saw Harrington post the program's 10th-best single-season output with 17 solo stops, didn't record her fifth solo block until the 12th match.
HELPING HANDS
Sophomore Jessica Hellmann has already accounted for 92 assists in the first three matches. Her 9.20 assist-per-set average is ranked seventh in the Mountain West Conference. Hellmann had a career-best performance against Southern Mississippi on Aug. 31, accounting for 39 helpers.
MORE NEWS FROM THE LEAGUE
Junior Michelle Harrington is ranked ninth in the conference with a 1.11 blocks-per-set average, while senior Jasamine Pettie's .429 hitting percentage against Kennesaw State is the fourth-best single-best mark to date.
STARTING OUT ON THE RIGHT FOOT
For the second consecutive year, Air Force opened the season with a victory. Air Force swept Kennesaw State in straight sets on Friday, Aug. 31. The Falcons won 25-21, 25-23 and 26-24.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Falcons are hoping for "Home Court Magic" this season, as 19 of their 29 regular-season matches will take place at the Academy. In fact, Air Force won't leave even leave the confines of Clune Arena until the end of September, as it is home for the first four weeks of the season.
LEADING THE WAY
Seniors Jasamine Pettie and Kristina Stewart will share captaincy duties this season. It is the second year that Pettie has served as a co-captain, as she also served in this capacity last year.
