WORCESTER, Mass. –– Avery Stowell (So., Yorba Linda, Calif.) continued her strong offensive outings with 13 kills and just one attack error in a three-set victory by the Navy (6-7, 1-1 Patriot League) volleyball team over Holy Cross (3-13, 0-2), Saturday evening in Worcester, Mass.  The Mids defeated the Crusaders, 34-32, 25-20, 25-19.
 
"It is not easy to mentally purge a hard loss," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador, "but I thought we did an excellent job of dialing in to Holy Cross.
 
The Mids and Crusaders played a marathon opening set in which the score was tied 21 times and the lead was exchanged six times. 
 
Holy Cross held a 19-15 lead late in the frame, but the Mids rallied to tie the score at 21-21.  The score would be tied at both 22 and 23, then the Crusaders reached set point with a 24-23 lead.  Avery Haydu (So., Allen, Texas) erased their first chance to win the set with a kill, but Holy Cross would also serve for the frame at 25-24, 26-25, 27-26, 28-27, 29-28 and 30-29.  Navy successfully sided out to extend the stanza each time, then the Mids had their first chance to serve for the set at 31-30 after a Holy Cross attack error.  That opportunity went awry when the Crusaders posted a kill, but another kill by Haydu made the score 32-31 in favor of the Mids.  A kill by Holy Cross was followed by a service error by the Crusaders that gave the ball back to Navy with a 33-32 lead.  This time, a Holy Cross attack error allowed the Mids to come away with the first set win.
 
It marked just the second time (at Army, Oct. 14, 2017, fourth set, won by Army) Navy has played a set that was extended to a final score of 34-32 since the sport went to 25-point scoring starting with the 2008 season. 
 
The second set also was close –– 11 ties –– until a 6-0 run by the Mids gave them a 20-15 lead.  Navy would maintain a cushion of at least three points over the rest of the set.
 
Set three followed a similar story to the set two as the score would be tied nine times.  Navy went on a 4-0 run to take a 16-13 lead, but Holy Cross would erase all but one point of that margin at 16-15, 17-16, 18-17 and 19-18.  A service error by the Crusaders pushed the Navy lead back to two points, then a kill by Maddi Sgattoni (Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) extended the cushion out to 21-18.  Following a Holy Cross timeout, Sofia Hruby (Sr., Austin, Texas) recorded a block to push the margin to 22-18, with ensuing back-to-back kills by Stowell taking Navy to match point with a 24-18 advantage.  Consecutive sideouts ending with a kill by Hruby closed the match.
 
Holy Cross held a 47-44 advantage over Navy in kills, but the Mids would outhit the Crusaders, .320-.267, thanks to committing six fewer attack errors.  Navy also controlled the service line as the Mids totaled seven aces and eight service errors to the one ace and 12 errors for Holy Cross.
 
Defensively, Navy recorded 29 digs and 7.0 blocks and Holy Cross finished with 32 digs and 3.0 blocks.
 
Stowell recorded six kills on 10 swings in set one, three kills and one error on five attempts in set two and four kills on eight swings in set three.  She ended the match with a .522 hitting percentage. 
 
Navy middle hitters Haydu, Hruby and Melissa Carter (Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) combined for 16 kills and three attack errors on 31 attempts (.419).  Leading that trio was Hruby with seven kills to go along with six blocks.
 
"We leaned heavily on our middles today and Sofia and Mel blocked at a high rate," said Labrador.  "Avery Stowell picked up right where she left off last night with leading our offense and creating kills out of tough situations.  Also, our sideout consistency (73 percent for the match) was a huge factor in the win."
 
Setter Paige Miles (Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla.) finished the 93-minute match with 36 assists, a team-high seven digs and a team-best three aces.  She also added the third solo block of her career (all this season).  Joining Stowell with double-digit kills was Sgattoni with 10.
 
The Mids will now return to Annapolis and prepare for their 2019 season opening home matches when the play host to Lafayette on Friday and Lehigh on Saturday.