Final Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Navy volleyball team lost a pair of very close matches Sunday in Syracuse, losing to the host Orange in four sets (25-23, 25-15, 22-25, 26-24) and to two-time defending America East champion New Hampshire in five sets (25-16, 23-25, 19-25, 25-16, 19-17).

"None of us are happy with the losses today," said Navy head coach Larry Bock, "but coming on the heels of a poor effort Saturday (a 3-0 loss to Buffalo) and knowing we were playing two very good teams, it feels as if we won a number of little things even if they did not add up to a victory. The team is starting to come into shape."

Navy's day began with the four-set loss to Syracuse, whose only losses in 10 matches this year have been to No. 13 Arizona and No. 15 Ohio State.

The Orange scored back-to-back points late in the first set to take a 23-20 lead on the Mids. After a pair of sideouts made the score 24-21, Navy notched consecutive points to winnow the margin down to one point at 24-23. A Syracuse kill would close out the frame.

Syracuse then used a 5-0 run in the middle of the second set to build a 16-9 advantage and separate itself from Navy for the remainder of the set.

Navy held a lead through most of the third set, including at 15-9, 20-13 and 24-17. Syracuse responded with a 5-0 run to close to within 24-22, but a Navy kill allowed the Mids to extend the match to a fourth set.

The Mids then had a great chance to force a fifth set. Navy held leads of 23-21 and 24-22 in the fourth set only to see Syracuse tally the next four points to rally for the victory.

The hitting numbers again told the story of the match. Navy hit just .085 in the contest while Syracuse hit .167. The Syracuse block was the catalyst behind that difference as the Orange posted 13.5 blocks to 4 for the Mids.

"Blocking was the difference in the match," said Bock.

Individually, Allison Latham (Jr., Merrimack, N.H.) recorded 11 kills, a .455 attack percentage and 3 blocks for Navy, with Sydney Shearn (Fr., Louisville, Ky.) grabbing 21 digs.

The Mids (2-11) then closed out the tournament against New Hampshire (8-7), which is the pre-season favorite to win a third-straight conference crown this fall.

The Wildcats quickly tallied four of the first five points of the opening set on their way to racing out to leads of 10-3, 15-5 and 20-8 to in the frame.

Navy was the team to get off to a fast start in the second set as the Mids took a 10-5 lead. New Hampshire rallied to take a 15-12 lead then, after the lead changed hands twice more, took a 21-19 advantage. Navy posted the ensuing three points to regain the lead at 22-21, only to see the score tied at both 22-22 and 23-23. Dorothy Murray (So., Harbor City, Calif.) knocked down a kill to take the Mids to set point, then a kill by Murray gave the Mids the second set.

The Wildcats tried to run away from the Mids in the third set. New Hampshire built a 15-9 lead only to see Navy take a 20-16 advantage. After a pair of points by the Wildcats sliced the lead in half, the Mids responded with a 3-0 run to take a 23-18 lead. The teams traded sideouts over the next three points, which gave the Mids a 2-1 lead in sets.

New Hampshire took a 14-9 lead midway through the fourth set only to see Navy close to within two points at 16-14. The Wildcats would take a 19-16 lead before closing out the frame on a 6-0 run to send the match into a decisive fifth set.

The lead would change hands six times and the score would be tied 10 times in the frame. Navy was the first team to serve for the match at 14-13, with a UNH kill extending the match. The Wildcats then served for the match at both 15-14 and 16-15. Murray erased both opportunities with kills, with her latter strike tying the score at 16-16. Navy had its second chance to serve for the win, but an attack error by the Mids tied the score at 17-17. New Hampshire notched consecutive kills to close out the over two hour match.

Hitting woes again plagued the Mids. New Hampshire held just a 57-55 advantage over Navy in kills, but the Mids recorded 35 attack errors to 22 for the Wildcats, which led to UNH outhitting Navy, .213-.116.

"The errors we made we really aggressive ones," said Bock. "I like that. Playing that way will pay off down the road. We were trying to find another gear out there."

Murray, who had recorded 31 kills all of her 2014 freshman season, posted a career-high 21 kills against the Wildcats.

"We just couldn't generate much heat from the left wing," said Bock. "By the end of the match everyone in the gym knew Dorothy was getting the ball but she responded each time. Hopefully this is her 'a star is born' match."

Murray and freshman setter Patricia Mattingly (New Albany, Ind.), who had 44 assists against the Wildcats, were named to the all-tournament team this weekend.

Navy will now play only Patriot League foes the remainder of the season. That new season starts Friday with a match at Bucknell.

"This is definitely a work in progress," said Bock. "We are far from figuring out this team. Our injuries have only complicated that process, and those players who have been hurt are far from being at full strength. We have had to go with a 'next-man-up' situation all season, but in a few ways that has helped in the development of our younger players. You could see some of that today.

"Our blocking is a concern, but we are serving, receiving serves and passing well to somewhat mitigate that. We also know we will receive good setting."