Final Stats

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Aleksandra Kazala totaled 28 kills and a .446 hitting percentage to lead American to a four-set victory over the Navy volleyball team, Tuesday night at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. The Eagles (15-6, 5-0 Patriot League) won the first two sets by the identical score of 25-16 before the Mids (11-5, 1-3) claimed a marathon third set by the score of 33-31. American, which has not dropped a league match in nearly two full calendar years, closed out the match with a 25-23 victory in the fourth set.

Navy's victory in the third set marked the first loss in a set by American in a league match this year.

"I think we settled in to the speed of the game," said Navy head coach Larry Bock of the team's play over the course of the last half of the match. "We became more patient with what we were facing. American was so good in the first two sets, they turned back into mortals in the last two.

"The ball comes at us at different trajectories, different speeds and different angles from American than any other team we face. They are a very good team, no question there."

The first set was tied at 8-8 when American went on a 5-0 run to separate from Navy. Kazala started the spurt with back-to-back kills and then teamed with Loren McKenzie for a block. Navy closed to within 13-10, but American scored each of the next three points on its way to building a 20-12 advantage.

The Mids hit a respectable .269 (11 kills, 4 errors, 26 attempts) in the opening frame, but the Eagles hit .500 with 15 kills and zero attack errors on 30 swings.

Kazala totaled five kills on 11 swings in the first set, then accounted for kills on three of American's first five points in the second set to help the Eagles jump out to a quick 5-1 lead. That advantage grew to 10-3, after which the teams pretty much played sideout volleyball over the remainder of the set. Kalaza would tally seven kills and no errors on nine attempts in the second frame as part of American's .731 attack percentage in the set.

The third set was a much different story as the score was tied 25 times and the lead changed hands on nine occasions. Navy fought off six match points against it and converted on its third serve to win the set on a kill by Sarena Seelbach (Fr, Chapel Hill, N.C.).

Navy carried that momentum over into the start of the fourth set as the Mids used a 5-0 run to take a 6-3 lead. That advantage would soon be 11-6 and 13-8 before American tied the set at 15. The score would then either be tied or Navy would have a lead of one or two points until American took a 22-21 lead. The teams traded the ensuing four points which took the Eagles to match point with a 24-23 lead. Kazala and Vela McBride combined for a block to conclude the match.

"We started blocking better and getting some quality touches on the ball," said Bock of the differences in the Mids. "We also started running some good stuff when in transition. Sarena gave us a lift with her range and speed at the net. But mostly we doubled down on first contacts. We passed and blocked the ball much better.

"I like how we battled."

American totaled just four more kills than Navy did, 61-57, but the Eagles hit .331 and limited the Mids to a .225 percentage. However, in the last two sets the Mids outhit the Eagles, .192-.163. American also held slim advantages in digs, 67-62, and aces, 4-2, but controlled the net with a 10-4 cushion in blocks.

Gaby Smith (Sr., Virginia Beach, Va.) paced the Mids with 13 kills, Katie Patrick (So., Aurora, Colo.) added 12 and three blocks, and Maggie Phillips (Jr., Leesburg, Va.) had 10 kills. Tara Dotzauer (Jr., Raleigh, N.C.) totaled nine kills and hit .316 while playing just sets three and four.

Defensively, Sydney Shearn (So., Louisville, Ky.) snared 30 digs for the Mids, which is a school record for the most digs in a four-set match and places her in a tie for the fourth-most digs in any length of match.

"Sydney played a high quality match for us," said Bock.

In addition to Kazala's strong effort, teammate McBride added 14 kills and one attack error on 19 attempts (.684).

"Kazala and McBride are special players," said Bock. "To get American to where they had to go to their strengths to beat us is a sign we are going in the right direction."

Navy will be back at home this weekend for matches in the Wesley A. Brown Field House Friday against Army West Point (7 p.m.) and Holy Cross (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.).