WEST POINT, N.Y. –– A gutty performance in a hostile environment fell just short of being an ideal outcome for the Navy (5-7, 0-1 Patriot League) volleyball team as it fell in five hard-fought sets to Army West Point (9-4, 1-0) at Gillis Field House in West Point, N.Y. this evening.  The Black Knights defeated the Mids, 25-15, 13-25, 25-18, 19-25, 17-15, in the annual Star Match, part of the Star Series presented by USAA, between the teams.
 
Seven of the 14 Navy players who took to the court tonight were playing in the first Army-Navy match of their careers, with two Mids having only played one career set each against the Black Knights.
 
"It was a great battle between two really good teams," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "We have a lot to be proud of, but have just as much work to do moving forward starting tomorrow."
 
Each team took turns recording convincing wins in the first four sets.
 
Army took a 5-2 lead early in the fifth set before Navy tied the score at 8-8.  The Mids then took a 10-9 lead and were able to stretch the advantage out to 13-10.  The Black Knights ran off the next four points to reach match point with a 14-13 lead.  Navy erased that opportunity on a kill by Maddi Sgattoni (Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.), then an ace by Sgattoni gave the Mids a 15-14 lead and their chance to serve for the match. 
 
A bad set by the Mids tied the score, then an Army kill gave the Black Knights a 16-15 lead.  Army served for the match and the Navy pass off of the serve receive went to setter Paige Miles (Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla.) who finessed the ball over the net.  Her attempt fell just wide of the sideline on the Army side of the court to conclude the match that last two hours and 22 minutes.
 
The teams took varying paths to scoring their respective points.  Navy totaled 61 kills and nine aces to 51 kills and six aces for Army.  Conversely, the Black Knights held a 14-4 advantage over the Mids in blocks.
 
Navy's Avery Stowell (So., Yorba Linda, Calif.) led all players on the night with 18 kills and also added the best hitting percentage of any regular hitter on either side of the net with a mark of .469. 
 
"I'm not sure where we would be without Avery Stowell," said Labrador.  "She was the best player in the gym tonight, even when Army overloaded their blocking and defense to stop her."
 
Additionally for Navy, Sgattoni notched a double-double with 16 kills and 12 digs and dropped in a trio of aces, Amanda Montag (Jr., Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) had 13 kills and Emily Solis (Sr., Leesburg, Va.) led all Navy defenders with 18 digs.
 
The Mids have lost three-straight matches, with each of the defeats coming in five-set decisions to Duquesne, West Virginia and Army.
 
Also, the home team has won seven-straight Star Matches.
 
Navy will remain in the road Saturday when the Mids play a 4 p.m. match at Holy Cross.
 
"We will rest and refocus and be ready to go Saturday," said Labrador.