BALTIMORE, Md. -- The Navy volleyball team battled back from a 0-2 deficit in sets to Loyola to force a fifth set, but the Greyhounds would narrowly prevail by two points over the Mids in the final frame to win, 25-18, 26-24, 23-25, 23-25, 15-13, Sunday at Reitz Arena in Baltimore.

The score was tied a combined 37 times in sets two, three and four and another seven times in the abbreviated fifth set.  There were 22 lead changes in those last four sets of play.

"Loyola always plays a great defensive match," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "We really struggled to generate kills early in the match.  Lilah Stevens came in the match and really changed the game.

"I am proud of how the team rallied to force a fifth set.  As we continue to build through the season, our focus has to be on consistency and focus for 25 points.  Once we start stringing together more clean plays in a row, we will be a tough team to beat."

Spearheading the Navy defense was the play of libero Hannah Hoover, who snared 31 of her career-best 36 digs in the last four sets.  The only Mid to have totaled more digs in a match than Hoover during the program's Division I era (since 1991) is Sydney Shearn, who totaled 46 in a 2017 five-set match against Army.

"Hannah played her heart out," said Labrador.  "We give her a ton of responsibility in the back row and we've leaned on her all season to keep us in matches."

Set One
Loyola took early leads of 6-1, 13-5 and 19-9 on its way to winning the opening frame.

Set Two
The Greyhounds again took an early lead, this time 4-1.  Navy slowly chipped away at the deficit and tied the score at 11-11.  The Mids then took a 15-12 lead.  From there, the score would be tied at each point from 16-16 through 22-22.  The Greyhounds scored back-to-back points on a block and an ace to reach set point with a 24-22 lead.

Navy erased those opportunities with a block from the tandem of Lilly Lutz and Ava Toppin followed by a kill from Stevens.  Those efforts tied the score for the 10th time.  A Loyola timeout ensued, after which the Greyhounds produced a pair of kills to give them a 2-0 lead.

Set Three
The largest lead for either team in the set was three points when the Mids held an 11-8 lead. There were 13 ties and six lead changes.

The score was tied at 20-20 when back-to-back points by Navy gave it a 22-20 lead.  The score would soon be tied for the last time at 23-23.   A Loyola service error took the Mids to set point, then an attack error by the Greyhounds gave the frame to Navy.

Set Four
The score was tied 14 times, the lead changed hands on eight occasions and each team held a lead of at the most two points.

The teams were knotted at 18-18 when Loyola scored points on a kill and an ace to take a two-point lead.  A sequence of sideouts ensued until a block by Toppin and Grace Burgoyne gave the Mids a point on their serve and tied the score at 22-22.  A pair of Loyola attack errors ensued to make the score 24-22 in favor of Navy.  Loyola extended the set on a kill, then Stevens registered a kill of her own to force a fifth set.

Set Five
The score was seven times, with the last coming at 8-8.  The Greyhounds then went on a small run with a block, two kills and a Navy blocking error to take a 12-8 lead.  It soon would be a 14-10 lead for Loyola.  The Mids battled and back-to-back Loyola hitting errors followed by another block by the tandem of Toppin and Burgoyne drew them to within one point at 14-13.  A Navy attack error would end the 142-minute match.

Inside the Numbers
Navy held offensive leads of 66-64 in kills and .190-.179 in hitting percentage.  This is despite Loyola leading 13-10 in kills and .303-.088 in hitting percentage in set one.

With Hoover's help, Navy also held a 108-93 advantage in digs, and Navy also doubled Loyola's blocking totals, 10-5.  The service line is where Loyola gained some points as it finished with 10 aces to Navy's three, though the Greyhounds did commit 10 service errors to eight by the Mids.

Lilly Lutz tied her career high –– which was set less than 24 hours ago –– with 11 kills.  Toppin finished with 10 kills, a .375 hitting percentage and five blocks, while Emerson Lionberger posted nine kills and a .400 hitting effort.  Setter Arleigh Hanson notched a double-double with 32 assists and 18 digs.

Stevens didn't play in the first set and was used a sub in the second set before starting the last three.  She produced eight kills and 11 digs in her time on the court.

Up Next
Navy plays Friday at Army in the annual Star Match, then plays Saturday at Colgate.