Cristin Richards (Tumwater, Wash.) led the Redhawks with 15 kills, plus she collected five digs and two total blocks, while Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.) tied the school record for best hitting percentage in a match, posting a .909 hitting percentage with 10 kills in 11 attempts. Alec Goodrie (Springfield, Ore.) finished 7-of-9 in attack attempts to go along with two service aces and three block assists, and Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) contributed eight kills, three service aces, and five defensive digs.
"It was a good team effort tonight. We stayed focused and blocked out our distractions," head coach Shannon Ellis said. "We are excited to win on the road, and we hope to keep this momentum going all weekend."
Seattle U scored the first four points of the match, with Karina Miastkowska (Northbrook, Ill.) earning a kill and Richards picking up consecutive kills. Down 11-6, Air Force started a 5-1 scoring run with back-to-back kills from Claire Bieber and concluded it with consecutive kills by Ayesha Hein. The Redhawks extended their lead back out to four at 18-14, but a 9-3 Falcon run pulled Air Force ahead, 23-21. A kill by Miastkowska stopped the run, and then Air Force made three errors to give Seattle U set point, which Richards clinched with a kill.
The Redhawks again took the early lead in the second set as Miastkowska, Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.), and Dill each earned kills, followed by a block by Miastkowska and Farley. Cami Richan collected three straight kills to pull Air Force into an 8-8 tie, but Goodrie keyed a 4-0 Redhawk run with a kill and two service aces. Air Force closed to within one at 15-14, but kills by Keller, Goodrie, and Dill extended Seattle U's lead back to four. The two teams basically exchanged points the rest of the set, with a kill by Dill giving the Redhawks a 2-0 match lead.
The third set started the same way as the first two, with Seattle U taking an early 6-1 lead thanks in part to two kills and a block assist by Goodrie and two kills and a service ace by Dill. Back-to-back blocks by Farley and Richards along with a Richards kill extended the Redhawk advantage to 11-4. Down 18-13, Air Force made a furious comeback, going on a 7-1 run to take the lead at 20-19. The Redhawks scored the final five points of the match on a kill by Keller, two kills by Richards, and two aces from Dill.
Jacquie Brice (Fullerton, Calif.) started the match at setter, earning 10 assists and three digs, before Megan Augustavo (Shoreline, Wash.) took over the main setting duties, collecting 30 assists and four digs in the match. Allie Hoskins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) once again led the defense as the libero with 12 defensive digs.
Air Force (3-8) posted a .302 hitting percentage, led by Hein with 11 kills, Richan with nine kills, and Bieber with seven kills. The setting duties were split between Josalynn Wise (18 assists) and Hillary Keltner (14 assists), and Maiya Perich led all players with 13 defensive digs.
Seattle University (3-10) continues play in the Aggie Invitational, first taking on Hofstra Saturday morning, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. The Redhawks will conclude its participation against host UC Davis Saturday night at 7 p.m.