Final Stats

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A strong start to the match by the Navy volleyball couldn't be carried over through the remainder of the contest as the Mids dropped a 3-1 decision to American Tuesday night at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. The Eagles (20-6, 11-0 Patriot League) posted a 16-25, 25-19, 25-13, 25-21 victory over the Mids (6-18, 4-7).

"We thought this match would comedown to serving and passing, and it did," said Navy head coach Larry Bock. "American simply serves the ball better than anyone else in the Patriot League. We didn't get enough swings, especially in their rotation one. If we breakdown the match, we probably lost at least two sets in their rotation one against our rotation one.

"This was an opportunity lost, but hopefully a lesson learned."

The first set could not have gone much better for Navy. The Mids scored six of the first eight points of the frame. The Eagles closed to within 9-6, but Navy ran off the next six points to extend its cushion out to 15-6. American again cut into the margin and eventually the score was 16-12 in favor of Navy, but a quick 3-0 run by the visitors made it a seven-point difference at 19-12. Navy then tallied five of the last six points of the set to earn the win.

"I thought we played some magnificent volleyball in the first set," said Bock. "We didn't let American get into a rhythm."

Navy tallied 17 kills and hit .469 in the set while limiting American to 12 kills and a .189 attack percentage. Six different Mids posted at least two kills in the set, with four by Maggie Phillips (So., Leesburg, Va.) pacing the squad.

American responded to just their third set loss in league play this season (11th match) by scoring the opening five points of the second set. Navy closed to with 7-5, 9-8 and 14-12 before a 4-0 run by the Eagles gave them an 18-12 lead. The Mids fought back and winnowed the deficit down to 20-17, but American posted each of the next three points on its way to closing the frame on a 5-2 run to even the proceedings at one set apiece.

"The way American started the second set â€"â€" when in their rotation one â€"â€" set the tone for the remainder of the match."

American notched just two more kills than Navy did in the second set, 12-10, but held a .214-.103 advantage in hitting percentage.

The third set was all American as the Eagles took leads of 5-0, 13-3 and 18-9 on its way to winning the set. The Mids struggled with the American serve throughout the set. Navy tallied six kills and eight errors while American posted 13 kills against just four errors. The Eagles also recorded five blocks and three aces in the set compared to a pair of blocks and a single ace for the Mids.

American again had a strong start in the fourth set as it took a 4-1 lead. Navy soon answered with a 5-0 run to take a 7-6 lead. The score was tied at 8-8 when the Eagles went on a 3-0 run to take an 11-8 lead. Navy kept answering and closed to within 11-9, 12-10 and 15-13, but a 4-0 spurt gave American a 19-13 cushion. It was soon a 21-15 American advantage when the Mids scored four of the next five points to cut the margin down to 22-19, then sliced it down to a 23-21 difference. Back-to-back kills by American allowed the Eagles to end the set and the match.

American knocked down only five more kills than Navy did, 49-44, but the Eagles hit .216 on the night while limiting the Mids to a .133 percentage. American also held advantages over Navy in aces, 8-2, and blocks, 13-8, which negated the 60-47 edge by the Mids in digs.

Five Mids posted at least seven kills on the night, with Phillips and Hannah Hirzel (Fr., Fullerton, Calif.) each recording nine. Setter Patricia Mattingly (Fr., New Albany, Ind.) and libero Sydney Shearn (Fr., Louisville, Ky.) snared 11 digs for the Mids, with Darby Minton (Fr., Chino Hills, Calif.) totaling 10 digs. Additionally, Hirzel, Dorothy Murray (So., Harbor City, Calif.) and Katie Patrick (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) all had four blocks.

American's offense was led by Aleksandra Kazala and Allison Cappellino's 13 kills, while Kazala added 14 digs and Loren McKenzie registered eight blocks.

Navy will take to the road again this weekend for a Saturday match at Colgate.