LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Strong starts in each of the three sets carried the Navy (6-1) volleyball team to a 25-14, 25-22, 25-16 victory over Denver (0-4), Friday afternoon at LionTree Arena in La Jolla, Calif.

The latest the Mids trailed in the three sets were 1-0 in set one, 3-2 in set two and 1-0 in set three.  

"I thought we really came ready to play," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "Denver had done some shuffling of its lineup, so we knew we would be adjusting point by point."

Navy enters a 10 p.m. ET match tonight against UC San Diego having won its last five matches.  The match can be viewed on ESPN+.

Set One
Navy raced out to an 8-2 lead and soon built a 16-5 advantage.

Hitting was the difference in the set as the Mids totaled 12 kills and one attack error on 22 attempts (.500) and limited the Pioneers to nine kills and nine errors on 20 attempts (.000).  Of those nine Denver attack errors, only two of them came as the result of Navy blocks.

Set Two
Navy used a 3-0 run to take a 10-7 lead and was able to maintain a slim advantage until it opened up a 19-13 cushion.  The lead grew to 23-17 when all of a sudden it was a two-point difference at 23-21.  A Navy sideout took the Mids to set point.  The Pioneers erased the opportunity for the Mids to win the set with a kill, but a Denver attack error on the ensuing play gave Navy the 2-0 advantage.

Set Three
Denver scored the first point of the set, but Navy scored the next seven and soon expanded its advantage out to double figures at 15-3.

The Mids outhit the Pioneers, .269-.000, in the final set.

Statistical Notes
Navy held advantages of 38-29 in kills, .337-.078 in hitting percentage, 8-2 in aces and 7-4 in digs.  Both teams had 34 digs.  Additionally, the Mids totaled just nine attack errors and forced the Pioneers into 22 hitting errors.  

Jamie Llewellyn finished the match with 13 kills, a .375 hitting percentage, three blocks and two aces.  Her twin sister, Jordan Llewellyn, recorded nine kills and a .381 hitting performance.  Paige Buzzerio and Ashley Warren each produced two aces and Ava Toppin tallied four blocks.  Hannah Hoover led all players with 12 digs and Averi Miller dished out 26 assists.  Anna Klemeyer had seven kills and only one error on 13 attempts (.462).

"Jamie and Jordan really moved the ball around offensively," said Labrador.  "Anna continues to play a smart, physical game."