ANNAPOLIS, Md. –– The Navy and Alabama volleyball teams went toe-to-toe with each other Friday night at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis, and in the end the Crimson Tide (4-0) emerged with a hard-fought four-set (28-26, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23) victory over the Mids (2-2). 
 
The set score was tied 40 times and the lead changed hands on 20 occasions in the two-hour match played as part of the ninth-annual Kristen Dickmann Invitational.  Additionally, it marked the first time Navy had played host to a team from the Southeastern Conference and was just the fourth time the Mids had played a team from the SEC.
 
"Even though this match won't be counted as a win on our schedule," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador, "I think we gained a tremendous amount of experience and confidence and set a tone for what we will be known for this season.  Our energy and relentless fight, along with some incredible athleticism, are without question a huge part of who we are in 2018."
 
Navy had several set-point opportunities late in the first set.  The Mids held leads at 24-22, 24-23, 25-24 and 26-24, but the Crimson Tide were able to stave off each deficit to come away with the 28-26 win.
 
Alabama then held a 19-16 lead in the second set, but Navy eventually took a slim 22-21 lead.  The score would be tied at 22-22 and 23-23 before the Mids tallied back-to-back points on a kill from Kelsey Kingsland (So., Blackwell, Mo.) and a kill from Katie Patrick (Sr., Aurora, Colo.) to even the match at one set each.
 
The visitors played their most complete frame of the night in the third set as they outhit the home team, .257-.152, in leading for the majority of the set and taking a 2-1 lead.
 
Navy built an early five-point lead at 14-9 in the fourth set, but soon found itself trailing, 16-14.  The score would be tied at 17-17, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22 and 23-23.  Alabama would earn the ensuing two points to cap the contest.
 
"Credit Alabama and their staff for a well-deserved win and a hard-fought battle," said Labrador.
 
Alabama would hold a .219-.190 advantage in hitting percentage in the match.  The Crimson Tide would tally narrower statistical leads in kills (55-51) and digs (63-54), with the Mids holding a 13-11 lead in blocks.
 
The service line was a big part of the story of the match as Alabama totaled nine aces and 12 errors to Navy's four aces and 14 errors.
 
Patrick was right in the middle of all of the action for the Mids as she totaled 15 kills and no attack errors on 21 attempts.  The 15 kills set a new career high for the senior, and her attack percentage of .714 set a Navy record for the highest hitting percentage in a match to last beyond three sets.  Patrick additionally totaled eight blocks, with her first rejection of the night allowing her to take sole possession of the school rally scoring career record.  She has now totaled 286 career blocks.
 
Also having a strong night was Kingsland, who posted a career-best 10 kills, and setter Patricia Mattingly (Sr., New Albany, Ind.), who totaled 35 assists, 13 digs and a career-high tying four blocks.  Leading the Navy passers in digs was Sydney Shearn (Sr., Louisville, Ky.) with 18.
 
"I couldn't be prouder of this Navy team," said Labrador, "and I look forward to taking the court again Saturday."
 
Alabama's offense was led by Doris Carter, who recorded 19 kills, Quincy Gary snared a match-best 21 digs and Hayley McSparin notched seven blocks.
 
The Navy-Alabama match concluded the opening day of the ninth annual Kristen Dickmann Invitational.  Villanova posted a three-set victory over Dartmouth in the first match of the day.
 
Four matched are on the docket for Saturday, with Navy facing Dartmouth at 10 a.m. and Villanova at 7:30 p.m.