Air Force Academy

Oct. 25, 2006

With just four weeks left in the regular season, the Air Force volleyball team resumes Mountain West Conference action on Saturday, Oct. 28, when it hosts Wyoming at the Academy. The two programs will face off for the second time this season at 7 p.m., in Clune Arena. In its first meeting of the year, Air Force dropped a three-game match to Wyoming in Laramie.

Weekly Release 11: Wyoming
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WYOMING COWGIRLS

2006 Record: 8-11 (2-6 MWC)

Head Coach: Pat Stangle

Series Record: Wyoming leads 18-5

Who to Watch: Rachel Smith (3.81 kpg); Samantha Eley (3.19 dpg)

Notables: Wyoming will face CSU on Thursday (Oct. 26)

LAST TIME OUT: Air Force dropped a three-game match to Wyoming on Sept. 28 during a MWC match-up in Laramie.  The Falcons succumbed to the Cowgirls with consecutive 30-6, 30-17 and 30-23 scores. Kristina Stewart led all Falcons with 12 kills.  Kim Kallabis, who led the team with 18 assists, also recorded a team-leading eight digs, while Katie Batchelder earned a defensive tally on seven. Kallabis and Ellen Bina accounted for the Falcons two aces.

LEADING THE WAY: Accounting for 27 service aces in 59 games, junior Rebecca Gerton currently leads the Mountain West Conference with a 0.46 aces-per-game average. Gerton has had two five-ace matches, which is tied for second in the league in terms of single-match production.

NIGHT OF FIRSTS: Hannah Sorber made her collegiate debut in the starting rotation against Northern Colorado on Oct. 24. Sorber, who has been splitting time at the setter position throughout much of the season and averages 2.14 assists per game, also recorded the first service ace of her career against the Bears.  The freshman collected 25 assists on the night, easily surpassing her previous personal-high of 13.

FINALLY!: Air Force snapped its 14-match winless streak with a pair of victories over Centenary and Alcorn State in a non-conference doubleheader on Oct. 16.  After dropping the first two sets to Centenary, the Falcons responded with three straight wins, en route to the 3-2 match win.  In the nightcap, Air Force swept host Alcorn State with a 3-0 victory. The wins are the first for Air Force since a 3-0 sweep of Norfolk State on Sept. 1. The third game victory against Centenary also snapped a 29-game losing streak for the Falcons.

NOW SERVING...: Over the victorious weekend, Air Force caught its opponents from the line. Against Centenary, the Falcons served up 14 total aces - a mark just two shy of the new Division I single-match record that was set earlier this year.  Freshman Katie Batchelder and sophomore Kristina Stewart chipped in four apiece, while junior Rebecca Gerton put down three.  In the nightcap with Alcorn State, Air Force produced 12 aces - five of which came from Gerton to match her career-best output. Batchelder and Morgan Dolan each tallied a pair against the Braves.

OFFENSE, DEFENSE...TAKE YOUR PICK: Freshman Michelle Harrington had a stellar defensive match against Centenary.  In addition to assisting on four blocks, Harrington added a trio of solo stops.  Against Alcorn State, she showed off her offensive skills, collecting 13 kills, including a match-opening span of six straight connections. Connecting on 13 of 19 attempts, with no errors, Harrington produced a team-leading .684 hitting percentage - the best by any Falcon this season.

BLOCK PARTY: Air Force blocked its way to 17 total stops - one shy of the Division I single-match record (18) set in 1999. Freshman Michelle Harrington assisted on four blocks, while adding a trio of solo stops. In addition, classmates Katie Batchelder and Jocelyn Booker added in six assisted blocks.

JUST BOOK IT: Jocelyn Booker gave the Falcons a spark against Centenary, connecting on 12 straight attempts during the second, third and fourth games.  Easily defeating the opposing middle blockers, Booker managed to put down everything that Kim Kallabis sent her way during that stretch.  In all, Booker accounted for 18 total kills and a team-best .484 hitting percentage. It is the eighth time in the Falcons' last 15 matches that Booker has recorded the team's best hitting percentage.

'RANK' YOU VERY MUCH: The Falcons are currently ranked third in the MWC with 1.77 aces per game. Only TCU (2.27) and New Mexico (1.80) are ranked higher. Junior Rebecca Gerton is ranked first in the league with a 0.46 ace-per-game average, while freshman Katie Batchelder is eighth at 0.34 apg. In other categories, freshman Jaclyn Fleming is ranked seventh with 3.65 digs per game and junior Kim Kallabis is ninth with 6.78 assists per game.

THERE WE ARE ... NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE: For the remainder of the season, fans of Air Force volleyball will be able to watch the Falcons from their computer.  The Falcons' new GoAirForceFalcons.com has video-streaming available for all home matches. To access this special feature, fans can sign up for free "Bolt Action All-Access".

TRACKING THE FALCONS: With the switch to the new GoAirForceFalcons.com, Air Force faithful will be able to follow the game live on the internet with CSTV GameTracker.  All home matches will now be available on the website, as well as several road contests. 

ON THE HORIZON: After a grueling span of seven matches in just 12 days, Air Force has just one match scheduled for the upcoming week. The Falcons will travel to Fort Collins on Thursday, Nov. 6, to face conference and local foe, Colorado State. This will be last single-match weekend of the season for the Falcons.