YPSILANTI, Mich. –– The Navy (4-4) volleyball team overcame a pair of match points against it in the fourth set to defeat Eastern Michigan (3-4) in five sets, Saturday evening at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich.  The Mids defeated the Eagles, 19-25, 25-23, 20-25, 28-26, 15-13, in a match lasting two hours and 20 minutes.

"Winning on the road isn't easy," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador, "and that is especially so when you are playing a tight fifth set.  This win is a great step forward in our development."

Navy jumped out to a 13-7 lead at the start of set one only to see Eastern Michigan take a 16-15 advantage.  The Mids took an 18-16 lead, but scored just one of the last 10 points of the set to drop the opening frame.

Navy again had a strong start to the second set as the Mids built a 13-6 cushion.  But Eastern Michigan again responded and tied the score at 16-16.  A 3-0 run by the Mids gave them a 19-16 advantage, and they soon held leads of 20-17 and 21-18.  The Eagles scored four of the next five points to tie the set at 22-22.  The teams traded sideouts to tie the score at 23-23, then setter Paige Miles (Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla.) registered a kill to give Navy a 24-23 lead.  Amanda Montag (Jr., Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.), who had the assist on the preceding kill by Miles, posted a kill of her own on the next point to tie the match at one set each.

The third set was tied at 6-6 when the Eagles went on a 9-2 run to take a 15-8 lead.  Navy was able to close to within two points at 17-15, then made it a one-point margin at 19-18.  Back-to-back points by Eastern Michigan gave it the breathing room it needed to secure the stanza.

Navy slowly edged its way out to a 14-9 lead in set four, but soon found itself trailing, 17-16.  The score would be tied nine times and lead change hands eight times over the remainder of the set.

Eastern Michigan reached match point with a 24-23 lead.  A Navy block by the tandem of Miles and Sarena Seelbach (Sr., Chapel Hill, N.C.) tied the score at 24-24, then the Mids took a 25-24 lead on an attack error by the Eagles.  A Navy attack error tied the match at 25.  Eastern Michigan gained the next point on a kill, which Navy answered with a kill of its own by Montag to tie the score.  The Mids had their second set point opportunity following a kill by Sofia Hruby (Sr., Austin, Texas) and converted it to force a fifth set on an EMU attack error.

Navy raced out to a 6-1 lead in the abbreviated fifth set, but Eastern Michigan eventually tied the score at 11-11.  Melissa Carter (Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) posted a kill, then she and Seelbach combined for a block to give the Mids a 13-11 lead.  An exchange of sideouts took Navy to match point with a 14-12 lead.  EMU extended the match with a kill, but Maddi Sgattoni (Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) registered a kill on the ensuing point to give the Mids the victory.

Navy won the match despite being outhit, .241-.180.  The Mids did hold the slimmest of advantages in kill, 63-62, but were outblocked, 14.0-9.0, and committed 30 attack errors to 22 for Eastern Michigan.

"Credit Eastern Michigan for running a very balanced offense and battling for every point," said Labrador.  "Nothing came easy tonight.  I thought we found some momentum at times and worked to keep the pace of play and aggressive mentality."

Montag led Navy with 17 kills and added 13 blocks.  Also posting a double-double was Sgattioni with 11 kills and 16 digs.  Joining that duo with double figure kills was Avery Stowell (So., Yorba Linda, Calif.) with 15.  Leading all Navy passers was Emily Solis (Sr., Leesburg, Va.) with 19 digs.  Miles made it three Mids with double-doubles as she produced 42 assists and 10 digs.  Additionally, Seelbach finished with seven kills and five blocks.

"It was great to see Avery find ways to score outside of attacking," said Labrador.  "Her serving (three aces) and blocking (three blocks) made a big impact on the outcome of the match."

Navy will close its slate of pre-league matches by taking part in the Mountaineer Invite next weekend.  The Mids will face Eastern Kentucky, Duquesne and tournament-host West Virginia.