Bartsch and Kaminski Lead Broncos Past Falcons 3-1 to Start Homecoming Week

BOISE, Idaho – Paige Bartsch and Annie Kaminski combined for 29 kills, 12 blocks, and 35 points to lead Boise State past Air Force 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-16, 25-23) to open Homecoming Week.

The Blue and Orange outhit Air Force .221 to .086 for a 54 to 40 kill advantage. In addition, the Broncos recorded a season-high 15 blocks to AFA's six.

Boise State opened the first set slow, falling behind 10-6 before regrouping to storm past the Falcons 19-7 down the stretch for the win.

The Blue and Orange was up 19-13 in the second when Air Force rallied. The Falcons came back for the win, outscoring the Broncos 12-2 to close the period.

Boise State regrouped for the third set. Tied at 4-4, the Broncos used an 8-1 run to go up 12-5. They would lead by as many as 11 at 22-11 before taking the set 25-16.

The fourth was a battle featuring 10 ties and four lead changes. Boise State's largest lead was three at 11-8, while Air Force led by four twice, the last at 21-17. Down four, the Broncos rallied to tie the score at 23, then won it 25-23 behind a 5-1 run down the stretch, capped off by Bartsch's season-high 20th kill to clinch the set and match.

TOP BRONCOS

Paige Bartsch recorded her fourth double-double of the year on a team and season-high 20 kills and 10 digs. She added two block assists to finish with a team-best 21 points.
Annie Kaminski recorded a team-high 10 blocks against the Falcons and hit .350 percent for nine kills to finish with 14 points.
Anabel Kotzakov added nine kills, one ace, 12 digs, three block assists and 11.5 points.
Kiki Remensperger hit .400 percent for five kills to go with a team-high 27 assists, one ace, eight digs, and a career-high seven block assists.
Bre Mitchell turned in a team and season-high 27 digs.

NOTABLES

Annie Kaminski tallied a career-high 10 blocks, turning in the 25th match by a Bronco during the rally scoring era (since 2001) with double-digits in blocks.
Paige Bartsch recorded her 24th career double-double.
Bartsch recorded her 12th match of the season with double-figure kills and the 70th of her career. It was also her 20th career contest with 20-plus kills.
Mitchell recorded her third match of the year with 20-plus digs and the eighth of her career.
The team's 15 blocks were a season high.
Reagan Casey recorded a Boise State career-high five blocks.

QUOTABLES

Shawn Garus, head coach

"I was happy with the way the team came back. I give a lot of credit for the comeback to the leadership on our team. I think there's a pouring into the younger players from Annie and Paige as seniors, just helping people believe in the team and how we train every day and to believe that we have the talent to overcome a slow start and that we can work through adversity, whatever it is."
"Paige had a couple of key kills on the right side using the block. I thought she played a very dynamic and smart game tonight, and that is not easy for a six-three player. She wants to rip the ball, but she was able to score with some off-speed attacks off the edges and with some tips. Just a really smart, experienced effort by her tonight."

Annie Kaminski, sixth-year middle blocker

"It's so awesome to get the win and play in front of our home crowd; there's honestly nothing like playing here. We feed off the energy."
"It feels great to get the 10 blocks, but honestly, I didn't even know. I was just out there playing the best I could for my team."

WHAT'S NEXT

Boise State will host the New Mexico Lobos at noon on Saturday in Bronco Gym to close their Homecoming slate.