Aug. 28, 2009

Box Score

Complete Box Score in PDF Format

HAMPTON, Va. -- The Navy volleyball team successfully opened its 2009 season by recording a four-set victory over Winston-Salem State Friday afternoon in Hampton, Va. The Midshipmen posted a 25-19, 29-27, 21-25, 25-13 victory over the Lady Rams as part of the Tiny L. Laster Memorial Tournament.

"It was a good opening match for us," said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "First and foremost we were able to win, but we also were able to receive a good look at the depth we have on the team. We were able to see some areas we emphasized during our training camp work well, and we also saw some things that we will need to execute better in our next match."

The first set was tied at 9-9 before the Mids scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 17-11 lead. Navy led by at least four points over the remainder of the set to take the 1-0 lead.

The second set was a different story as Navy trailed by as many as seven points (14-7) in the set. The Mids still trailed 18-14 before scoring the ensuing four points to tie the set at 18-18. Setter Jenny Rudewicz (Jr., Winter Garden, Fla.) tallied both a kill and a service ace during this 4-0 Navy run. After a Rudewicz service error gave Winston-Salem State a slim 19-18 lead, Meghan Carpenter (So., Frederick, Md.) knocked down a kill for the Mids with Carolyn Ewert (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif.) posting kills on the next two plays to give Navy a 21-19 lead. The Lady Rams scored the next three points to take a 22-21 lead, then held two set points at 24-22.

A kill by Ewert erased the first set point opportunity, then Abbie Merkl (Sr., Upper Marlboro, Md.) recorded a kill to tie the set at 24-24. A kill by Ashley Harris gave WSSU another chance to serve for the set, but Jasmine Frazier committed a service error to keep the set going. An attack error by Harris gave Navy its first chance to serve for the set, but a kill by Harris tied the set at 26-26. Asia Carr stepped to the service line for the Lady Rams and promptly committed a service error to make the score 27-26 Navy, then Harris knocked down another kill to tie the set for the ninth time. Harris would first commit a service error then an attack error to give the Mids the 29-27 victory.

The Lady Rams bounced back from their disappointment of losing the second set by going on an 8-1 run midway through the third set to take a 17-10 lead. The Mids were able to slowly chip away at the margin and pulled to within two points at 20-18, but that would be as close as Navy would get in the loss.

Navy quickly asserted itself at the start of set number four, scoring eight of the first 10 points of the set and leading by at least five points over the remainder of the frame.

The Mids totaled a .237 hitting percentage as a team in the match while holding Winston-Salem State to a mark of .107. Navy also tallied 16 service aces, 21 service errors and 32 digs in the match, with the Lady Rams accruing 11 aces, 12 service errors and 21 digs.

Ewert paced all players in the match with 13 kills and a .429 attack percentage, while Carpenter added 10 kills and a .353 hitting percentage. Defensively for the Mids, Holly Berger (So., Claremont, Calif.) hauled in 20 digs on the afternoon.

Navy will be back in action Saturday at 12 Noon when the Mids face tournament-host Hampton.