Air Force Rallies for Five-Set Victory

Saturday, August 27

Colorado Springs, CO

12 p.m.

Montana State University

1-1

Air Force

2-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Montana State	19	25	25	22	6	2
Air Force	25	22	22	25	15	3

Kiana Black

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

8/27/2016 2:57:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

“We’re getting exactly what we need right now to prepare us for conference,” said MSU head coach JJ Riley. “Being able to go five sets gives us a lot of reps to iron things out as well as feel some pressure in that fast fifth set.”

By: Tom Schulz

For the second straight match the Montana State volleyball team went the distance. This time, however, the outcome wasn't as successful as Air Force rallied from a 2-1 deficit to post a 25-19, 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-6 win over the Bobcats on the second day of the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic.

After dropping the opening set, Montana State (1-1) used scrappy defense and a big block to capture the second and third sets. In the fourth stanza, the Falcons jumped out to an early 5-1 advantage before the Bobcats reeled off four points to even the contest.

Air Force (2-0) answered with a 14-8 run midway through the game to gain a 19-13 cushion. MSU fought back and closed the gap to 23-22, but AFA closed out the set with back-to-back kills by Piper Heineck and Elizabeth Pennington.

The fifth set belonged to Air Force as the Falcons soared to a 10-2 lead as the Bobcats committed six hitting errors. AFA finished the set out-hitting MSU .261 to -.069.

Sophomore Natalie Passeck paced MSU with a team-high 15 kills, while hitting .268 from the field and adding 11 digs. Defensively, the Bobcats were sparked by Allyssa Rizzo and Sydney Mathison with 19 and 13 digs, respectively. Audra Dugan guided MSU at the net with four blocks.

"We're getting exactly what we need right now to prepare us for conference," said MSU head coach JJ Riley. "Being able to go five sets gives us a lot of reps to iron things out as well as feel some pressure in that fast fifth set."

As a team, the Bobcats hit .098, while collecting 44 kills and 68 digs. MSU had an outstanding match at the net, out-blocking the Falcons 10-4.

"I thought we did some good things and battled well during the match, even when things weren't going well in that fifth set," Riley said. "We unfortunately were high error in the fifth set which makes it hard to win. But the main thing is we rebound and get ready for our next match.

"We are getting some very good information on what we need to work on in practice," Riley continued. "We know what we need to do to help these players continue to develop."

MSU will play Jacksonville State at 5 p.m. to close out the tournament.