Air Force Academy

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. -- Despite winning the first set by a 30-25 margin, the Air Force volleyball team dropped a four-game set to New Mexico at the Academy on Senior Night (Nov. 11). Following the victory in the first set, Air Force dropped consecutive 30-27, 30-20, 30-24 sets to close out the home portion of the 2005 season.

New Mexico opened the scoring, but the Falcons responded by scoring the next five points. Senior Carly Siefken (Beaverton, Ore.) guided the Falcons to the lead with five straight serves. The Lobos pulled within one at the 13-12 mark but Air Force maintained its lead, as Kristin Hamlett (Escondido, Calif.) five more serves to return the Falcons' margin to five. During her run, Hamlett tallied an ace, while classmate Rebecca Gallegos (Las Vegas, N.M.) picked up a pair of kills. Although the Lobos held the Falcons at game-point for three straight points, Air Force rolled to the 30-25 victory.

The Falcons scored first, but New Mexico quickly rebounded to take a 10-3 lead. A kill by sophomore Brooke Akers (Desert Hot Springs, Calif.) stopped a 12-2 run by the Lobos and turned the flow of the game. Air Force climbed back into the fray and a tip from Siefken finally cut the Lobos' lead to one at 27-26. Unfortunately, the Falcons' comeback fell short as New Mexico went on to take the 30-27 win.

New Mexico scored the first four points, before Hamlett stopped the scoring with a kill. The Lobos continued to put points on the board, rolling out to a 13-5 advantage. Sophomore Kim Kallabis (Camino, Calif.) recorded an ace during a serving streak that brought the Falcons to within five. Siefken put down a kill and followed it up with an ace, as the Falcons continued to close in on UNM. A long serving set from New Mexico sealed the 30-20 game.

Air Force struck first in the fourth, but New Mexico quickly responded and took the lead. Down 15-5, Air Force pulled within six, assisted in part by kills from Akers and freshman Jasamine Pettie (Baton Rouge, La.), as well as another ace from Siefken. Air Force continued to charge back and two aces from Akers tied the score at 17. Following another tie at 19, the Lobos went on a 5-1 run to take the 24-20 advantage. Gallegos, Akers and Pettie continued to score, but Air Force dropped the 30-24 set to the Lobos.

Hamlett and Gallegos tied for the match lead with 12 kills apiece, while Akers and Pettie neared the double-digit kills mark with nine each. Pettie topped the field with a .467 hitting percentage, backed by nine kills on 15 attempts, with just a pair of errors. Siefken recorded 41 assists and 10 digs, while leading the team with three aces. Freshman Kristina Stewart (Glendale, Ariz.) topped the Falcons with 11 digs, while Hamlett claimed eight blocks, including two solo stops.

The Falcons head out on the road next weekend, as they close out the regular season at Wyoming (Nov. 18) and Colorado State (Nov. 19). Both matches are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.