NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. –– The blocking of Rutgers limited the offense of the Navy volleyball team and led to the Scarlet Knights (5-5) posting a four-set victory over the Mids (6-4) Saturday afternoon at the College Avenue Gym in New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers won a 27-29, 25-15, 25-21, 25-20, two-hour decision against Navy.
"The size and physical play of Rutgers were too much for us today," said Navy head coach
Paco Labrador. "We gave them a fight and I'm proud of the ability of our team to adapt on the fly as new players were entering the match. Several players had breakthrough moments this weekend. We are a better volleyball team today than we were Thursday."
Navy hit just .170 in the first set but still managed to earn the narrow victory.
Maddi Sgattoni (So., Pittsburgh, Pa.) notched six kills in the set and both
Sarena Seelbach (Jr., Chapel Hill, N.C.) and
Kelsey Kingsland (Sr., Blackwell, Mo.) recorded three kills. Rutgers hit .289 and held a 4-1 advantage in blocks in the opening frame.
After posting 17 kills in the first set, Navy would record just 16 over the course of the next two sets. The Mids hit just .024 in set two and were held to a mark of (-).040 in set three as the Scarlet Knights totaled two blocks in the former set and six in the latter.
Navy had its best hitting stanza of the match in set four (.216), but so too did Rutgers (.294). The Scarlet Knights also posted three more blocks in the final frame without the Mids tallying a rejection.
Sgattoni led Navy with 10 kills,
Olivia Rozmus (Jr., Chicago, Ill.), who was named to the all-tournament team this weekend, had seven kills and
Sydney Shearn (Sr., Louisville, Ky.) posted 17 digs, seven assists and two aces.
"Olivia was a steady, reliable blocker and hitter this weekend," said Labrador. "She bailed us out of several tough spots in our three matches this weekend with stuff blocks or timely kills.
"Everyone is looking forward to returning to the gym Monday."
The Mids will close their non-league slate next weekend with matches Friday in Colorado against both Maryland Eastern Shore and Denver and then Saturday at Air Force.
