Oct. 27, 2006
Final Stats
Complete Box Score in PDF Format
WORCESTER, Mass. - Three days after winning a five-game match over Coppin State, the Navy volleyball lost a five-game decision to Holy Cross, Friday night in Worcester, Mass. The Crusaders, who have defeated the Mids in four of Navy's last seven trips to Worcester, pulled out the 18-30, 30-23, 19-30, 30-28, 16-14 victory.
"We controlled game one, but let Holy Cross back into the match in game two," said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "They are a team who if you let hang around will give you trouble, and we did just that tonight. They kept the ball alive and scored at opportune times."
Whereas the eventual winner of games one through three took control early, game four was close throughout the frame. The game featured 10 ties, including at 26-26 and 27-27. A Holy Cross kill and a Navy attack error broke the tie then, after the Crusaders committed a serving error to allow the Mids to close to within 29-28, Christine Strawson knocked down a kill for Holy Cross to send the match to a fifth game.
Navy quickly jumped out in front 6-3 in the final game, but allowed Holy Cross to score the next six points to take a 9-6 lead. Navy climbed back into the match and eventually a Jessie Sims (So., Etowah, N.C.) kill tied the score at 13-13. Navy's Alexa Gibbs (So., Springfield, Ill.) committed a service error of her own to take the Crusaders to within match point, but Sims tallied another kill to extend the match.
Valerie Mora would give Holy Cross its second match point with a kill, then the match ended when Meagan Merinder recorded a service ace.
"The two games we won were probably two of the best games we have played in awhile," said Schwob. "We just couldn't put it together for an entire match."
Navy (11-15, 3-7 Patriot League) lost the match despite leading Holy Cross (4-17, 2-8) in every team statistical category appearing in the box score.
Multiple Navy players set career highs in the match, including Sims with 27 kills, Kim Koss (Sr., Clarence Center, N.Y.) with 63 assists and 20 kills and Meredith Biri (Fr., San Antonio, Texas) with 22 digs.
Additionally, Nikki England (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.,) tallied 20 kills and 19 digs for the Mids in the two-hour match.
Navy will remain on the road Sunday for a 5:30 p.m. match at Army which will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
