Nov. 9, 2010
The Air Force volleyball team returns to Falcon Court at East Gym this week to host Utah and BYU for the final time in Mountain West Conference action. The Falcons will face off with Utah during a Military Appreciation celebration on Thursday, Nov. 11, before taking on BYU at noon on Saturday, Nov. 13. It will be the final conference matches between the Falcons and both schools, as the Utes and Cougars will be leaving the MWC next season.
Match Notes 12: Utah; BYU 
CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE MATCH?
Live stats and video streaming will be available for both matches. In addition, the Academy's cadet radio station, KAFA 97.7 FM, will broadcast live from Falcon Court at East Gym for both matches. Viewing and listening options are available on the calendar page of GoAirForceFalcons.com.
PROMOTIONS
Thursday's match is Military Appreciation Night, as the Falcons look to CAMO-OUT Falcon Court at East Gym. All fans wearing camouflage will receive free admission at the door. In addition, all military personnel (with I.D.) will receive free admission and the first 200 fans will receive Air Force volleyball pint glasses. Saturday afternoon's match will be the third Pen Pal Day of the season, as well as the Blue and Silver Beat Writers match.
LAST TIME WE MET
UTAH: Air Force traveled to Salt Lake City on Oct. 16, where it fell in three to the host Utes by 25-10, 25-19, 25-18 scores. Jessica Hellmann had a solid outing, collecting an ace, solo block, two kills, four digs and 16 assists. BYU: The Falcons dropped a three-set match to BYU on Oct. 14 in Provo by consecutive 25-17, 25-15, 25-22 scores. With nine kills apiece, Nichole Stilwell and Caroline Kurtz combined for 18 of the team's 28 kills.
COACHING CONNECTIONS
Air Force head coach Matt McShane has a coaching history with both of this week's opponents. McShane began his coaching career at BYU, serving as an assistant coach from 1980-82. He also spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Utah (2001-04), helping the Utes to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
POSTING SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS
With her second kill of the Nov. 6 match, Caroline Kurtz became just Air Force's fourth Division I player to record at least 900 kills in a career. Kurtz currently sits in fourth on the program's all-time Division I list with 908 kills. She also reached the 800 career dig milestone on Nov. 4, becoming just the third Division I Falcon to achieve that mark. In addition, Nichole Stilwell earned the 200th assisted block of her career against Wyoming, becoming only the fourth Division I player to reach that milestone mark.
BRING OUT THE BEST
With 23 assists against Colorado State on Nov. 6, Jessica Hellmann moved into third on the program's Division I all-time list with 1952 helpers.
MAKING THE JUMP
For the second straight week, Kelly Spencer jumped up two places on the program's Division I single-season digs list. Bolstered by 12 digs at Wyoming and Colorado State, Spencer has accounted for 296 digs on the season. Since the Oct. 29 match, the senior has moved from seventh to third on the single-season list.
HANSEN CAN'T HELP IT
Julia Hansen hit a team-high .400 against 14th-ranked Colorado State on Nov. 6, including a perfect four-for-four in the first set. The senior connected on five of 10 attempts, committing just a single error, while adding a solo block and two assisted stops.
AROUND THE MOUNTAIN
In the Mountain West Conference, Caroline Kurtz is ranked second in the kills, with a per-set average of 3.52, and sixth in points-per-set with a 3.79 average. Jessica Hellmann is ranked eighth in assists, as she averages 6.01 helpers per set, while Kelly Spencer is ranked ninth in digs with 3.33 per set.
WHAT'S ON DECK
The Falcons are down to their final two matches of the season. Air Force concludes the road portion of its schedule next Saturday (Nov. 20), when it travels to San Diego, Calif. The Falcons will face San Diego State at Peterson Gym at 1 p.m. (PST). Air Force will then return to the Academy on Friday, Nov. 26, for its Senior Night Celebration against UNLV.
