ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Michigan State (5-0) built early leads in the first two sets to gain a 2-0 advantage, then held off the Navy (1-4) volleyball team's charge over the next two sets in a 25-10, 25-17, 18-25, 25-14 victory by the Spartans over the Mids, Friday night at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis as part of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational.

"I am proud of the perseverance of this team," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "We couldn't get much going early, but we kept battling."

Set One
The Spartans took an 8-2 lead at the start of the match, then put the score out of reach for the Mids by going on a 9-0 run that gave them a 19-5 cushion.

Michigan State scored on 18 of its 24 serves in the set and recorded 10 kills and allowed just four kills.

Set Two
Just as in set one, Michigan State took an early 8-2 lead.  Navy was able to close to as few as four points at 12-8 and 16-12, but a 6-1 spurt by the Spartans boosted their advantage out to 22-13.

Michigan State registered 14 kills and a .385 attack percentage while it limited Navy to eight kills and a .167 hitting stanza.

Set Three
Buoyed by a mass influx of plebes that filled the playing court, Navy found a rhythm right from the start of set three.  The score was tied at 6-6 when the Mids went on a 4-0 run.  The Spartans matched that effort to tie the set again at 10-10.  After an exchange of sideouts, Navy scored back-to-back points as part of a 4-1 run that gave it a 15-12 lead.  Michigan State scored to make it a two-point margin at 15-13, but the Mids again went on a 4-1 run to stretch their lead out to 19-14.

Michigan State tried to get back into the set and closed to within three points at both 19-16 and 20-17.  Ashley Warren (Jr., Pennignton, N.J.) promptly accounted for kills on each of the next three points to give the Mids a 23-17 lead, a margin that became 24-17 following a kill from Ava Toppin (Fr., Carolina Beach, N.C.).  The Spartans staved off one set point with a kill, but Toppin posted another kill to close out the frame.

Navy hit .500 in the set (13 kills, 3 errors, 20 attempts) and held Michigan State to a .278 attack percentage (10 kills, 5 errors, 18 attempts).

"The third set was electric," said Labrador.  "We owe a huge part of that to our incredible crowd. The Brigade fueled one of the most efficient offensive performance I've witnessed."

Set Four
The set was tied at 6-6 when Michigan State scored the next seven points to take a 13-6 lead.  That was enough of a cushion for the Spartans to win the set and the match.

Michigan State tallied its best hitting set of the night as it produced eight kills and just one attack error on 17 attempts for a .412 percentage.

Statistical Summary
Michigan State posted a facility and tournament-record 17 aces in the match while Navy dropped in just two aces.  The Spartans tallied one more service error than the Mids (12-11).

Michigan State also held advantages over Navy in kills (42-35), hitting percentage (.329-.151), digs (29-19) and blocks (11-4).  

Warren posted a career-high nine kills to lead Navy in that stat.  She finished with one more kill than Jamie Llewellyn (Jr., Port Deposit, Md.).  

"Ashley was seeing the ball well and making some great decisions," said Labrador.

Warren also accounted for two blocks to share the team lead with Toppin and Maggie Bodman (Jr., Northbrook, Ill.).

Up Next
Navy closes the Kristen Dickmann Invitational Saturday at 3:30 p.m. when it faces UAlbany.  VCU and Michigan State will play at noon.

"We are getting better with every moment we are together," said Labrador.  "Tomorrow, we look to take another step forward."

Tournament Schedule and Results
VCU def. Navy, 3-1 (25-20, 32-30, 17-25, 25-18)
Michigan State def. UAlbany, 3-0 (25-18, 26-24, 25-10)
VCU def. UAlbany, 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-21)
Michigan State def. Navy, 3-1 (25-10, 25-17, 18-25, 25-14)
Michigan State vs. VCU - Saturday, noon
UAlbany at Navy - Saturday 3:30 p.m.