USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Nevada volleyball fell to the Air Force Falcons 3-0 Thursday evening at the United States Air Force Academy, moving to 7-19 and 3-12 in Mountain West play.
 
Hikialani Kaohelaulii highlighted the Pack's performance with 21 digs, moving to seventh all-time in single-season digs with 224 total. Bella Snyder totaled six total blocks while Jordan Schwartz earned a hitting percentage of .556% with five kills on nine attacks.
 
The Falcons and Wolf Pack have the closest series record amongst all Mountain West opponents. Air Force holds a 13-11 record against Nevada.
 
The opening set was defined by each team trading runs of points. Air Force opened the match on a 4-1 run, including kills from Harvey Joi and Aaryn Scires. The Pack followed with a 3-1 run of their own cutting the Falcon's lead down to one. Air Force then extended their lead to 10-4 with a five consecutive points. The Wolf Pack did not back down, however, with a 10-4 stretch of their own, tying the set at 14 points. A Falcon 6-1 stretch extended the Air Force lead to 20-15. The teams each traded points bringing the score to 22-17, forcing a Nevada time out. A pair of Falcon kills and a block closed out the set for Air Force, 25-19.
 
Similar to the first set, Nevada and Air Force traded points to open the second set before the Falcons took a 3-2 lead. The Wolf Pack answered with a three-point scoring run off of a Makaula and Schwartz block followed by a Kaohelaulii service ace. The Falcons fired back with a 4-1 scoring run of their own. Nevada was able to string together a 4-1 run themselves to take the two-point lead, 11-9. Towards the middle of the set, the Falcons began to dominate going on a 13-4 scoring run to lead the set 22-15 over the Pack. Nevada attempted the late comeback, scoring two points to shorten the Falcons lead, but Air Force went on another three-point run to win the second set, going up 2-0 overall in the match.
 
Air Force took control early in the third set with a 4-1 lead over Nevada before the squads began trading points. The Pack saw a 3-0 scoring run to tie the set at six overall. To answer, the Falcons had their own four-point run to lead 10-6. The Pack came within three, but Air Force scored two more to lead 12-7, forcing a Nevada timeout. Both teams traded a 5-1 scoring run, but the Falcons ultimately reached match point. The Pack kept the set alive, scoring two in a row, but a Joi Harvey kill secured the set and the match for Air Force 3-0.
 
Up Next:
Nevada volleyball wraps up its road contest for the 2023 season at New Mexico Saturday, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. The Wolf Pack will return home to Virginia Street Gym for its final two matches of the season Thursday, Nov. 16 against the Boise State Broncos at 6 p.m., followed by the final match that will honor the team's seniors Saturday, Nov. 18 against the Utah State Aggies at 1 p.m. Tickets start at $7 can be purchased at www.mynevadatickets.com