ANNAPOLIS, Md. –– The Navy volleyball team battled to the end of a four-set loss to American, Sunday evening at the Wesley A. Brown Field House.  The Eagles (4-3) held off the Mids (4-1), 13-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-23.

The result gives American the fourth and final berth into this week's Patriot League Tournament.  Navy, which played a five-set match at Loyola Saturday evening, ends the season in a tie for third place in weighted winning percentage with Army and the Eagles, but out of the playoffs once tiebreakers are utilized (winning percentage of teams each team defeated).

"American showed why they have more Patriot League titles than the rest of the teams in the league combined," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "Each of their players stepped up over the last three sets.  I am proud our battle against them.

"Our core of returners is very, very strong.  We will use the competitive experience they gained this year, work hard over the summer and be ready to again compete for a Patriot league title."

Navy never trailed in winning the opening set. The Mids took a quick 6-1 lead which soon grew to 15-6.  Navy hit just .111 in the set, but limited American to a (-).143 effort.

The score was tied at 8-8 in the second set when American went on a 4-0 run. The Mids were able to draw to within two points at 15-13 and 19-17, but the Eagles scored the next six points to even the match at one set each.

Navy hit a healthy .269 in the second set, but that was outdone by American's mark of .370.

The Mids ran off three-straight points midway through the third set to take a 19-16 lead.  The Navy advantage grew to four points at 21-17 but, just like the second set, the Eagles ended the set on a tear.  This time, American closed with an 8-0 run that gave them a 2-1 advantage in frames.

Navy took an 8-4 lead early in set number four, then the Mids held a 16-13 advantage.  American tallied the next six points to take a 19-16 lead.  The Eagles were soon in front by scores of 21-17, 23-18 and 24-20.  The Mids registered the next three points on a kill from Anna Klemeyer (Fr., Sarasota, Fla.), an American hitting error and a block by the tandem of Klemeyer and Avery Stowell (Jr., Yorba Linda, Calif.), to close to within 24-23.  After a timeout by the Eagles, Helena Elbaek ended the set and the two-hour match with her 20th kill of the evening.

The match brings to an end the career of outside hitter and Navy team captain Maddi Sgattoni (Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.).  She is just the second Mid during the program's Division I era (since 1991) to lead Navy in kills in each of her four seasons, started all 94 matches of her career and totaled 1,089 kills (sixth at Navy), 829 digs (11th) and 119 aces (seventh).  Had a traditional 2020 season been played out and she attained her career averages, those totals were projected to be 1,343 career kills (fourth place), 1,000 digs (seventh) and 154 aces (fourth).

Sgattoni was a First-Team All-Patriot League honoree in 2018, a second-team all-league performer in 2019 and was named the MVP of the 2018 Patriot League Tournament when she produced 25 kills –– including one on match point –– in the championship match of the tournament to send the Mids to the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a Division I program.

"This things Maddi has accomplished for this program both on and off the court are almost impossible to quantify," said Labrador.  "She's a top passer and defender, serves a tough ball and carried a huge load of swings over her career.  No volleyball captain has had to lead the team through a pandemic, but Maddi was amazing.  Even with all of the obstacles, I consider this season a tremendous success due to Maddi and the excellent relationships she formed with her teammates and coaches.  As hard as it is to replace a player like Maddi, she has inspired the returners and set the standard for outside hitters in the program."

Sgattoni produced a double-double of a team-high 11 kills to go along with 11 digs this evening.  Stowell dropped in nine kills, Maddi Bodman (Fr., Northbrook, Ill.) had eight and Cami Herman (Jr., Brookfield, Wis.) posted seven.  Leading the Navy passers in digs were Kimberly Lynch (Jr., Murrieta, Calif.) and Tessa Bohn (So., Nokomis, Fla.), each of whom snared 12 digs.

"This season would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our administration and support staff," said Labrador.  "Loretta Lamar was instrumental in finding a way for us to get to five matches and be in the running for the league tournament at the last match of the league season.  We can't thank her enough.  Our medical staff is incredible with great leadership from Jim Berry and our team athletic trainer Ashley Grillo.  Our game day operations are the best in the business led by our veteran sports information contact Justin Kischefsky.  Eric Beatty from our marketing department made this Senior Day very special."

Final Regular Standings by Weighted Winning Percentage
.700 Colgate (7-1) - #1 seed
.500 Holy Cross (5-5) -  #2 seed
.400 Army (4-2) - #3 seed
.400 American (4-3) - #4 seed
.400 Navy (4-1)
.300 Lehigh (3-5)
.200 Lafayette (2-5)
.100 Loyola (1-5)
.100 Bucknell (1-3)