WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Lilah Stevens posted a career-high 18 kills as the Navy volleyball team held off a furious rally by American to win a five-set match Saturday night at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C.  The Mids (6-18, 6-9) defeated the Eagles (20-7, 10-5), 25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 25-27, 15-12, in a match lasting nearly 150 minutes.

Navy has now defeated American in three of the last five matches played in Washington, D.C., and has posted a 5-2 record against the Eagles over the last seven matches regardless of site.

The Eagles posted a 3-0 victory over the Mids earlier this season in Annapolis.

"I can't say enough about how much this team had grown this season," said head coach Paco Labrador, who has guided Navy to seven of the program's eight wins against American since the Mids began competing on the Division I level in 1991.  "Every player is making smarter decisions, reading the game better and, more importantly, working harder during the week in practices."

Set One
Navy never trailed and led from when the score was 2-1 through the end of the set.  The Mids opened with a 5-1 lead and held a cushion of between two and six points until closing out the frame.

Each team had 11 kills, but Navy had six attack errors and forced 10.

Set Two
The Mids had another good start as they took a 6-2 lead in the early going.  The score would be tied at 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14.  Navy scored the next five points to take a 19-14 lead and eventually held a 22-16 advantage.  That was enough for the Mids to take the 2-0 advantage.

Set Three
The set was tied at 10-10 when American built leads of 14-11 and 18-12.  The margin grew to seven points at 21-14 before the Mids were able to cut the margin down to three points at 23-20 and then two at 24-22.  A kill by the Eagles extended the match to a fourth set.

Set Four
The teams were tied at 11-11 when a 3-0 run gave the Mids a 14-11 lead.  Navy soon led by scores of 18-13 and 23-17 and then reached match point with a 24-21 cushion.  The Eagles scored the next three points to tie the frame.  A kill by Katie Jackowski made the score 25-24 in favor of Navy, but an attack error, an American ace and a kill gave the Eagles the fourth set.

Set Five
Navy took early leads of 7-4 and 11-6 only to see American tie the frame at 11-11.  A kill by Lilly Lutz broke the tie and returned the serve to the Mids.  Stevens knocked down her fourth kill of the set on the next point and then teamed with Julia Humphrey to give the Mids a 14-11 lead.  The Eagles staved off one match point against it on a kill, but Humphrey responded with a kill to finish the match.

Inside the Numbers
American totaled more kills than Navy, 65-59, but the Eagles also had more attack errors, 34-26.  That resulted in the Mids having a slightly better hitting percentage, .189-.152.  American also had more service errors, 13-5, and Navy recorded more digs, 87-78, and blocks, 12-8.

Stevens set career highs for kills, hitting percentage (.455) and blocks (4).  

"Lilah had a tremendous night," said Labrador.  "Many of her kills were helped by some really nice ball control from our passers, but the big points she scored were in tough spots against a solid American block and all-around defense.  She carried us through the fifth set."

Lutz tied her career high for kills with 12 and set a new career best with five blocks.  Navy's two setters each finished with double-doubles.  Lainey Feighery posted 22 kills and 12 digs and Arleigh Hanson registered 21 assists and 11 digs.

Also defensively, Hannah Hoover finished with 20 digs, Anuhea Hananio-Lore had 18 digs, Humphrey tallied six blocks and Ava Toppin posted four digs and five blocks.

"I think this was our best defensive match of the year," said Labrador. "Our back row was really dialed into the system and executed well.  Blocking made a big impact for us, too.  Ava and Julia have really pushed themselves to improve and it shows."

Up Next
Navy will close its season by playing host to Holy Cross Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.