ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Lilly Lutz tied a career highs in kills (12) and set a career-best in hitting percentage (.423) during a 3-0 victory by the Navy volleyball team, Saturday evening at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis.  The 25-18, 28-26, 25-20 victory by the Mids (7-18, 7-9) over the Crusaders (2-23, 0-16) gave them a three-match winning streak and a 7-5 record in their last 12 matches of the season.

"Our seniors, Hannah Hoover, Lilly Lutz, Katie Jackowski and Doris Nelson, have been incredible leaders of this young team," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "Beating fifth-seeded Loyola and third-seed American and winning at home against Holy Cross in our last three matches is great way to end our season.  These seniors will be incredible leaders in the Navy and Marine Corps.  Thanks to their families and all of our fans for honoring our seniors by packing the stands.

"We were tested today by a hungry Holy Cross team, just as we were when we faced them earlier in the season.  They played with great energy and enthusiasm from the first point of the match until the end.  The heart they showed is a great testament to the culture and chemistry their team has and to their head coach, Kathleen Colpoys."

Set One
The score was tied at 13-13 when two Holy Cross attack errors surrounding a Navy ace gave the Mids a little breathing room at 16-13.  It soon was a 17-15 Navy lead when the Mids went on a 5-0 run to build a 22-15 cushion.

Lutz recorded five kills in the set as the Mids hit .314 and limited the Crusaders to a .119 percentage.

Set Two
Holy Cross used its serve to take a 13-8 lead midway through the set.  The Crusaders would build a lead as large as five points at 17-12, but the Mids rattled off the ensuing five points to tie the score.  It would be tied at both 20-20 and 21-21 when back-to-back kills gave Holy Cross a 23-21 lead.  Lutz cut the lead on half on a kill, but another Holy Cross kill took the Crusaders to set point with a 24-22 lead.  

A service error eliminated one opportunity to win the set, then a kill by Ava Toppin tied the score at 24-24.  Holy Cross would again serve for the set following a Navy attack error, but it was wiped out on a kill by Lilah Stevens (25-25).  An ace by Anuhea Hauanio-Lore gave the Mids the chance to serve for the set.  Holy Cross answered with a kill to tie the score for the ninth time.  A service error by the Crusaders returned the serve to the Mids.  This time Navy converted on the chance to win the set with Stevens posted her fourth kill of the frame.

"I'm really happy with our tenacity at the end of the second set," said Labrador.  "We needed every player to step up and I thought we finished the set with great poise."

Set Three
An early 7-4 Navy lead was whittled down to one point at 8-7 and 10-9.  A Holy Cross service error and back-to-back Navy kills made it a 13-9 lead.  The run continued for the Mids after a timeout by the Crusaders as a block and a kill gave Navy a 15-9 lead.  Holy Cross kept chipping away at the margin and it soon was a three-point difference at 21-18, 22-19 and 23-20.  Hauanio-Lore posted a kill, then Lutz added her last kill to finish out the match.

Inside the Numbers
Navy held a 47-35 lead in kills and a .228-.172 advantage in hitting percentage.  The Mids also were +2 at the service line (8 aces, 6 errors) while the Crusaders were -3 (5 aces, 8 errors).

Lutz originally set her career high of 12 kills in Navy's 3-0 loss at Lehigh on Nov. 2.  She tied her mark with 12 kills in a five-set victory at American on Nov. 9.  Tonight, she had her 12 kills against just one attack error on her 26 swings for a .423 hitting percentage.

Hauanio-Lore just missed a double-double with 9 kills and 9 digs, while she also added four aces.  Setter Lainey Feighery did notch a double-double with 18 assists and 10 digs.  Hannah Hoover grabbed 16 digs to end her career with 1,106.  That tally moves her into fourth place at Navy for the most by a Mid during the rally scoring era and fifth place for the most during the program's Division I era.

"Lilly finished her career leading our attackers and making clutch plays," said Labrador.  "Doris returned from an injury in time to run some of our offense.  Katie scored some critical kills tonight.  Hannah led our team defense and passed more than 50 percent of the court.  Even our manager, Kendall Hieber, stepped up to fix the replay camera in the middle of the match."