Boise State travels to Air Force and New Mexico

MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY, WEEK THREE

Thursday, Oct. 7

6 p.m. | Boise State at Air Force | Live Scoring | MW Network

Saturday, Oct. 9

1 p.m. | Boise State at New Mexico | Live Scoring | MW Network

THIS WEEK IN BRONCO VOLLEYBALL
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Boise State (13-3, 2-2 MW) is on the road for two this week as the Broncos travel to Air Force (4-10, 1-3 MW) on Thursday and New Mexico (12-3, 3-1 MW) on Saturday.

SCOUTING BOISE STATE: The Broncos enter the week at 13-3 overall and 2-2 in league. Boise State is coming off a split at home last week falling in five to San Jose State before regrouping to defeat Nevada in four on Saturday.

Through 16 matches, Boise State is led by Spring 2021 All-MW and 2021 Fall Preseason All-MW honoree Lauren Ohlinger who has tallied team highs for kills (216), service aces (30) and points (259.0). Ohlinger leads the Mountain West in total kills and total points, and ranks second in total service aces. She is ranked ninth nationally for total service aces, 27th for services aces per set and 39th in total points.

Makayla Hansen follows with 147 kills and 69 blocks. Kayly Pau is third with 94 kills and 29 blocks, Alyssa Wissinger is fourth with 86 kills and a MW-high 74 blocks (17th NCAA), while Alli O'Harra contributes 54 kills and 54 blocks.

As a team, Boise State hits .265 percent (1st MW / 23rd NCAA) and holds opponents to .156 percent (2nd MW / 28th NCAA). The Broncos average 12.92 kills per set (4th MW), 2.98 blocks (1st MW / 7th NCAA), 2.00 service aces (2nd MW / 13th NCAA) and 13.54 digs (3rd MW). Boise State is second nationally for total blocks (176.0) and 11th in total service aces (118).

SCOUTING AIR FORCE: The Falcons are 4-10 overall and 1-3 in conference play. They are coming off a pair of road defeats at UNLV (L 3-1) and San Diego State (L 3-0). Air Force is led by Bailey Keith with 113 kills and 38 blocks, Joi Harvey is next with 92 kills and hits .389 (3rd MW). As a team, Air Force hits .214 percent (6th MW) while their opponents have hit .202 (5th MW). AFA was picked to place seventh in the 2021 Mountain West race.

THE AIR FORCE SERIES: Boise State leads the all-time series 15-5 and leads the MW series 13-5. The Falcons won the lone meeting last spring in USAFA, Colo., but Boise State leads the series in contests played at Air Force by a slim 6-5 margin. The Broncos also lead 8-0 in matches played at Boise.

SCOUTING NEW MEXICO: The Lobos have played well this fall and enter the week at 12-3 overall and tied for first (five way tie) in MW play at 3-1. They are coming off a road split last week beating San Diego State (W 3-1) before falling at UNLV (L 3-1). UNM is led by Kaitlyn Biassou with 176 kills (2nd MW) and Uxue Guereca with 143 kills. As a team, New Mexico hits .248 percent (2nd MW) while its opponents have hit .122 (1st MW). New Mexico was picked to place 10th in the 2021 MW race.

THE NEW MEXICO SERIES: The all-time series is tied at 9-9, but Boise State has won five straight encounters with the Lobos. The Blue and Orange won both meetings last year at Boise and leads the series in contests played in Bronco Gym by a 7-4 margin. UNM leads 4-3 in matches played at Albuquerque. The Broncos lead the MW series 10-8 which dates back to 2011.

FOLLOW THE ACTION: If you cannot attend, the best way to follow the action is by going to the volleyball schedule on BroncoSports.com and clicking on the appropriate "Live Scoring" and/or "Live Stream" links for the particular match you want to follow. For home and Mountain West contests the live stream is free of charge courtesy of the Mountain West Network.

NOTES: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BRONCO VOLLEYBALL

BRONCOS ARE SOLID AT HOME: Boise State is a combined 12-3 at home over the last two seasons 6-1 last spring and 6-2 this fall.

TEAM DEPTH / CHANGING LINEUP: Boise State has one of its strongest teams in program history and has had the luxury to start 12 of its 17 student-athletes at least once this season. Through 16 contests the Broncos have featured six different lineups. The most used lineup to date has been Ohlinger, Wissinger, Boss, Casillas, O'Harra and Hansen, this group has started together seven times.

BOSS AT SETTER: - Senior Danielle Boss returned at setter where she has started the previous three campaigns. She entered the season ranked ninth all-time and fifth in the rally scoring era (RSE) for career assists at Boise State with 2,151. She has opened the season with 488 to move into seventh place overall and fourth in RSE with 2,639.

THE BLUE WALL TALLYING DOUBLE-DIGIT BLOCKS: The Broncos' frontline has recorded double-digit team blocks in 12 of 16 contests to date with a high of 18 against San Jose State (Sept. 30), tied for 12th all-time and tied for third during the rally scoring era (RSE).

THE BLUE WALL NATIONALLY RANKED: The Broncos lead the Mountain West and are ranked second nationally in blocking with 176. The wall leads the MW and is seventh in the NCAA for blocks per set at 2.98.

DONAHUE LOOKING FOR BLOCKS RECORD: Jessica Donahue enters the season with a chance to break the school record for career blocks. She currently stands at 395 to move into seventh place all-time, she needs to reach 493 for the record. She now sits in second during the rally scoring era, 25 short of tying for first. Donahue saw her first action of the season on Sept. 10 versus CSUN.

WISSINGER NATIONALLY RANKED FOR BLOCKS: Alyssa Wissinger is ranked 17th nationally for total blocks with 74 and 13th in blocks per set at 1.45.

BOSS NATIONALLY RANKED FOR ASSISTS: Dani Boss is ranked 27th nationally for assists per set at 10.61, that is second in the MW.

OHLINGER NATIONALLY RANKED: Lauren Ohlinger is ranked ninth in the NCAA for total service aces (30), 27th nationally for service aces per set (0.51) and 39th for total points (259.0).

SHAWN GARUS: Boise State head coach Shawn Garus, in his 13th season with the program, currently stands at 219-151, his career record stands at 326-271 in his 21st year. Garus ranks second in total wins in program history, out of 10 coaches all-time. At Boise State, he has recorded nine winning seasons overall, including an active streak of six straight. He has three seasons (2010, 2015, 2016) with 20-plus wins.

BOSS DOUBLE-DOUBLES: After missing week one, Dani Boss came out on fire in Irvine, Calif., during week two leading the Broncos to a tournament title at the UCI/Adidas Invitational (Sept. 3-4) with three double-doubles. The senior now has a team-high seven, with the last two coming against San Jose St. (42 assists, 13 digs) on Sept. 30 and Nevada (46 assists, 11 digs) on Oct. 2.

SECOND-BEST START ALL TIME: Boise State's 12-2 record to open the season was tied for second all-time with the 1982 team. The record is held by the 2010 squad that went 13-2.

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Players Mentioned

Danielle Boss

Jessica Donahue

Makayla Hansen

Alli O'Harra

Lauren Ohlinger

Kayly Pau

Alyssa Wissinger