Volleyball: Falcons look to add to win column

  • Published
  • By Valerie Perkin
  • Athletic Communications
The Air Force volleyball team continues its season-opening road trip this weekend as it travels to Conway, Ark., for the 2009 Sugar Bear Classic. 

The Falcons, who are 5-3 on the season, will face Louisiana Tech, Central Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Louisiana Monroe during the two-day tournament at the Prince Center on the campus of Central Arkansas. 

The Falcons have only faced two of the four teams a combined two times. Air Force is 1-0 all time against Louisiana Tech. after sweeping the Lady Techsters in 1998. Central Arkansas holds the 1-0 series advantage, having defeating Air Force in straight sets at the start of the 2006 season. Sept. 12 marks the Falcons' first meeting with both Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Louisiana Monroe. 

Both of Air Force's opponents on Sept. 11 have winning records (Louisiana Tech/6-2, Central Arkansas/4-2), while both of Saturday's foes are below .500 (Arkansas-Pine Bluff/0-5, Louisiana Monroe/1-6). 

Air Force's 5-3 start to the 2009 season is its best eight-match opening since 2003. That year, the Falcons posted a record of 6-2 during their first eight matches. Air Force's best eight-match start to a season since joining Division I was in 1999, when the Falcons rolled to an early 7-1 record. 

The Falcons have cleared the 20-point plateau during 22 of their 27 sets this season, not counting the 15-point fifth set. Air Force, which has reached the winning 25-point mark on 13 occasions, has only missed that mark five times. Just eight matches into the season, the Falcons are almost halfway to last season's total of 49. 

Caroline Kurtz and Maiya Perich currently lead the team in service aces, with 11 apiece. Grace Konstanzer is ranked second with seven, while three others (Jessica Hellmann, Michelle Harrington and Kelly Spencer) have each contributed three. 

Air Force opens Mountain West Conference play at Utah Sept. 17 and BYU Sept. 19.