ANNAPOLIS, Md. –– The Navy volleyball team will open the home portion of its Patriot League slate this weekend when the Mids (4-6, 0-1) play host to Colgate (5-6, 2-0) on Friday and Army (8-3, 2-0) on Saturday. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. in the Wesley A. Brown Field House. Admission is free to all Navy home matches.
Saturday's match serves as the annual Star Match, which part of the Star Series presented by USAA.
A video stream of each match will be provided through ESPN+. Links to both the video stream and free live statistics from the matches can be found at NavySports.com.
Accessing the USNA
The USNA is closed to all vehicles without a Department of Defense-approved identification card. All other visitors must either walk through one of the security gates or ride the shuttle bus. The free shuttle bus service begins one hour before all matches this weekend. Whether walking on or riding the shuttle bus, those ages 18 and over must present a photo identification card (driver's license) to gain access and those ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
The shuttle will depart from the blue (west) side parking lot at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium starting one hour before the start of the respective matches. Enter the lot off of Taylor Avenue (south side of the stadium). There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle. The shuttle will depart from and return to the bus stop next to the Blue Angel jet.
COVID-19 Policy
As per Department of Defense regulations, those who have not been vaccinated must wear a mask at all times when on the USNA grounds and those who have been vaccinated have the option to wear a mask while outdoors but must wear a mask while indoors. Additionally, masks must be worn by everyone regardless of vaccination status while riding the shuttle bus.
About Navy
Navy lost its Patriot League opener on Sunday, losing 25-23, 25-18, 25-23 to Loyola in Baltimore.
The Greyhounds outhit the Mids, 45 to 36 in kills and .303 to .157 in attack percentage. Much of that margin was attained in the second set. Setting that frame aside, Loyola held leads of 30 to 29 in kills and .277 to .220 in attack percentage.
Cami Herman (Sr., Brookfield, Wis.) posted a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs, and
Kimberly Lynch (Sr., Murriuetta, Calif.) grabbed 20 digs.
Tough Schedule
The five non-Patriot League teams Navy has lost to this season have combined for a 43-8 record (84.3%), through matches of Sept. 21. This includes Michigan, which was ranked 23rd at the time of the match between the Mids and the Wolverines.
Navy's Non-League Losses – W-L (through Sept. 21)
Towson – 13-1
Michigan – 7-2
West Virginia – 10-1 (loss to #20 Penn State)
Liberty – 4-3
Loyola Marymount – 9-1 (loss to #8 Purdue)
Navy ranks 100th nationally and second in the Patriot League for the toughest schedule played to date, as determined by the NCAA using opponent winning percentage.
NCAA Toughest Schedule (through Sept. 21)
76th – Lehigh
100th – Navy
146th – Colgate
171st – Loyola
183rd – Army
203rd – American
262nd – Holy Cross
282nd – Bucknell
308th – Lafayette
About Colgate
Colgate travels to Annapolis on a four-match winning streak that includes sweeps of Lehigh and Lafayette this past weekend. The Raiders have posted a 12-1 record in sets over the last four matches.
Colgate began league play with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-22 victory at home over the Mountain Hawks, then won a 29-27, 26-24, 25-19 decision over the Leopards.
Included among the non-league losses for the Raiders are defeats to Kansas State (3-1), Nebraska (3-0), UNLV (3-1) and Princeton (3-2).
The Raiders placed first in the 2021 (fall) Patriot League Preseason Poll.
Navy and Colgate did not meet during the 2021 spring season. The Raiders defeated the Mids in four sets and in three sets in the two matches played between the teams in 2019. Six of the seven sets were decided by no more than five points, with four sets decided by either two or three points.
About Army
Army heads into a Friday match at Loyola having won three of its last four matches. Two of those victories were five-set decisions.
The Black Knights, who have played eight matches at home and just one true road match this season, recorded a 28-26, 25-17, 25-21 victory over Bucknell in the team's league opener. Army followed that victory with a 25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 23-25, 15-9 win over Lehigh the next day. Both of those matches were played at West Point.
Army has put together a 3-0 record in five-set matches this season. The lone defeats on the year for the Black Knights are to High Point (3-0), Boston College (3-1) and St. John's (3-0).
The Black Knights placed third in the 2021 (fall) Patriot League Preseason Poll, but garnered seven of the 18 first-place votes (Colgate led with eight first-place nods).
Army and Navy did not meet during the 2021 spring season. The teams split a pair of five-set matches during the 2019 campaign.
