AFA, DU win at the pentagon
WASHINGTON — Michele Swope and Colleen King combined for 25 kills to lead the University of Denver volleyball team to a 3-1 win Friday over the Citadel in the opening game of the inaugural All-Academy Championship — a volleyball tournament held at the Pentagon.
Yes, that Pentagon. The tournament is the brainchild of Air Force coach Matt McShane and features four service academies: the Falcons, Army, Navy, and The Citadel, along with DU. McShane said he called Army and Navy when he was hired to see if the academies played each other, as they do in football.
“I found a guy who is an Air Force Academy grad and played volleyball at the academy who now works in the Pentagon,” McShane told the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat.
That got the ball rolling, but the tournament required a lot of preparation, because it’s being held in the small Pentagon Athletic Center and all relatives and friends wishing to attend required to submit information to the government. No live statistics and no live video feeds were available. No food, cellphones or cameras were allowed, and fans were escorted into and out of the facility.
Air Force overcame a 2-0 set deficit, a 17-8 disadvantage in blocks and being outdug 66-57 to beat Navy 3-2 (13-25, 14-25, 25-17, 25-17, 15-12) in the second game.
Wyoming 3, Arizona State 2 • LAWRENCE, kan. — Camille Coffman led four Cowgirls in double figures with 12 as Wyoming continued its perfect start with the five-set (25-23, 25-18, 18-25, 24-26, 15-11) win over the Sun Devils (6-1) in their first match at the Jayhawk Classic.
The College of Charleston (4-3) ended Wyoming’s 9-0 start with a 3-1 (25-15, 26-28, 25-21, 27-25) win later Friday. Jodi Purdy had 13 kills and two blocks for UW.
Colorado 3, UMBC 2•BALTIMORE — The Buffaloes (5-2) opened play at the Maddie Bingaman Memorial by beating the host Retrievers (2-7) in five sets (25-17, 21-25, 25,-23, 20-25, 15-6). Kelsey English led the way with 15 kills, three blocks and two service aces.
Colorado State 3, Pepperdine 0•FORT COLLINS — Diana Cranston had 13 kills, five digs and three blocks, and Adrianna Culbert had four digs and two service aces as the Rams (5-3) swept the Waves (25-22, 25-23, 25-21). Gregg Burkhart, The Denver Post
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