11/6/2004 - Women's Volleyball
Late Rallies Give Navy Big Volleyball Win
Ashley Van Hartesvelt moved into second place on Navy's career kills list with 1,392 |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Ashley Van Hartesvelt's (Sr., Breckenridge, Colo.) 20th kill of the night came on match point as the Navy volleyball team capped a furious game four rally to defeat Bucknell, 23-30, 30-27, 30-19, 31-29, Friday night in Macdonough Hall.
"This win belongs to our senior class of Ashley Van Hartesvelt, Amanda McHenry (Cary, N.C.) and team captain Katey Geary (San Jose, Calif.)," said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "After a difficult road trip last week, they rallied the team together and kept everyone focused on what we can accomplish. Wins last night and tonight show what outstanding leaders they are in volleyball, and what great officers they will be when they are commissioned next spring. I know the leadership they demonstrated this week will carry over into next week as we move closer to our goal of reaching the playoffs."
With just one week remaining in the Patriot League season, the Midshipmen now control their playoff destiny. Navy stands in fourth place in the Patriot League with a 6-6 record, one victory ahead of both Holy Cross and Lafayette, as well as just one win behind third-place Bucknell. Only the top-four teams at the end of the season advance to the league playoffs. Navy closes the league season next Friday against Lafayette and Nov. 13 against Lehigh.
"We know we have to win to make the playoffs," said Schwob. "But we are not going to worry about Lehigh until after the Lafayette match. We had to work our tails off to beat the Leopards earlier this season, and it will take the same type of intensity and focus we showed in that match to prouduce another win."
In tonight's match, neither team could take control of the opening game until the Bison broke open a 19-19 game with a 7-1 run to take a 26-20 lead. After two Navy points, the Bison closed out the game by scoring four of the next five points.
After totaling only four kills in the opening game, Van Hartesvelt started to heat up in game two, pounding down nine kills and only one error on 16 swings. The Mids appeared to pull away from the Bison with a 26-23 lead, Bucknell came right back with four-straight points to take a 27-26 lead. After a Navy sideout tied the score, a Diane Sheldon (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) kill gave the Mids a 28-27 lead. A poor pass led to the Bison not being able to produce a attack to give Navy its 29th point, then Van Hartesvelt ended the game on a service ace, one of four on the night by the senior.
The Mids took control of game three right from the start, jumping out to a 19-10 lead and scoring six of the game's final seven points.
Navy started to pull away several times in game four, but Bucknell always answered back. Navy led, 18-13, but Bucknell closed to within one point at 19-18. The Mids took a 23-19 lead, but back came Bucknell to make the score 23-22. Navy again started to pull away at 26-24, but the Bison scored five-straight points to take a 29-26 advantage. A sideout returned the serve to Navy and made the score 29-27, which brought Andrea Wernecke (Jr.,Gaithersburg, Md.) to the service line. A few tough serves and one service ace later, Navy reached match point at 30-29. The two teams produced a nice rally until Van Hartesvelt went cross court for the game and match-winning kill.
Van Hartesvelt produced her second 20-kill match in as many days -- as well as her second double-double in two days -- her ninth 20-kill match of the season and the 25th of her career. With her second kill of the match she moved into second place on Navy's Division I career kills list, passing Jen Williams' (1996-99) total of 1,373. Van Hartesvelt has now tallied 1,392-career kills and trails only Rachel Shropa's (1996-99) total of 1,577.
Navy totaled a .222 attack percentage in the match and held the Bison to a .151 percentage. Navy tallied only one more block than Bucknell did, but hauled in 57 digs to 42 by the Bison. Navy also recorded 12 service aces, two more than Bucknell totaled.
Prior to its season-ending weekend of league matches, Navy will play host to Howard Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Patriot League Standings (Remaining Opponents)
1. American ... 12-0 (vs. Lehigh, vs. Lafayette)
2. Army ... 10-2 (at Bucknell, at Colgate)
3. Bucknell ... 7-5 (vs. Army, vs. Holy Cross)
4. Navy ... 6-6 (vs. Lafayette, vs. Lehigh)
5. Lafayette ... 5-7 (at Navy, at American)
Holy Cross ... 5-7 (at Colgate, at Bucknell)
7. Colgate ... 2-10 (vs. Holy Cross, vs. Army)
8. Lehigh 1-11 (at American, at Navy)
