WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Less than one year after the Navy volleyball rallied from a 2-0 deficit in sets to defeat Army, the Mids very nearly accomplished the same feat but fell in five sets to the Black Knights, 25-19, 25-19, 19-25, 23-25, 17-15, in a nearly three-hour match Friday at Gillis Field House in West Point, N.Y.

The contest served as this year's Star Match, part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA.

"I couldn't be prouder of this team tonight," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "The result isn't what we hoped for, but this team is the most resilient, cohesive and supportive group of athletes I've ever coached.  Everyone stepped up at critical moments throughout the night.

"Playing in this environment is truly a privilege.  I'm excited for the youth on this team getting the first of their many matches against Army."

Set One
Army took an 8-4 lead and expanded it to six points at 11-5.  Navy tried to chip away at the deficit and closed to within three points at 15-12, 16-13 and 17-14 before the Black Knights stretched their cushion to five points at 19-14.  Army was able to maintain a lead of at least four points over the remainder of the set.

Set Two
Navy had a much better start to the second set as it scored six of the first seven points of the frame.  Army drew to within one point at 10-9 before taking a 15-12 lead.  It soon was an 18-15 lead for the Black Knights but Navy scored the next two points on an ace from Ally Alessio and block from the tandem of Grace Burgoyne and Ava Toppin to make it a one-point difference at 18-17.  The teams traded sideouts before Army notched a pair of points in a row to take a 21-18 lead.

After a kill by Navy's Emerson Lionberger, the Black Knights scored the next four points to close out the set.

Set Three
The Mids held just a 6-5 lead early in the third set when they were able to open up a 13-5 advantage.  The Navy lead fluctuated between seven and nine points until Army made it a 22-16 score, which led to a timeout being called by the Mids.  The Black Knights would climb to within five points at 23-18 and 24-19 before an Army attack error gave the third set to Navy.

Set Four
Navy again had a productive start to the set as it took an early 6-1 lead.  Army winnowed the margin down to one point at 14-13, but Navy quickly pushed the advantage out to 19-13.  Back came the Black Knights and the score was tied at 21-21.  After an exchange of points made the score 22-22, back-to-back Army attack errors gave the Mids a 24-22 lead.  Army erased one set point against it with a kill, but a bad set sent the match to a fifth set.

Set Five
After a close start to the set by the teams, Army took three-point leads at 9-6 and 10-7. It was an 11-9 lead for the Black Knights when the Mids scored the next three points to take a 12-11 lead.  An Army kill followed by a service error by the Black Knights put the Mids in front, 13-12.  Navy reached match point following an Army attack error, but an Army kill and a Navy attack error tied the score at 14-14.

Army made it three-straight points on a kill, which took it to match point (15-14).  Navy stayed alive when Toppin and Anuhea Hauanio-Lore combined for a block to extend the match (15-15). The Black Knights would tally kills on the ensuing two points to record the victory.

Inside the Numbers
Army's offense was slightly better than Navy's over the course of the marathon as the Black Knights totaled 64 kills and a .158 attack percentage in contrast to the 51 kills and .111 hitting effort by the Mids.  But much of those advantages were built in the first two sets when Army led Navy, 28-19 in kills and .169-.012 in hitting percentage.

Individually, Toppin had the best match of her career as she finished with 13 kills and no errors on 24 attempts for a .542 hitting percentage and added seven blocks.  Those are all career highs for the junior.

"I am not sure I have seen a player dominate in a Star Match as Ava did," said Labrador.  "She was absolutely unstoppable."

Hannah Hoover has been Navy's starting libero in each of the last three seasons.  The senior snared 36 digs Sunday in a five-set match at Loyola and is nearing the 1,000 dig mark for her career.  Tonight, she was limited to appearing in the first and third sets after suffering an injury.  In her place, Alessio grabbed a career-high 19 digs and Amara Chambers totaled six digs.

"After an unfortunate injury to Hannah, Amara and Ally did an incredible job of controlling the back row," said Labrador.

Farrah Eike ranked second on the team to Toppin in kills with nine –– she had three kills in each of the third, fourth and fifth sets –– while Hauanio-Lore and setters Arleigh Hanson and Isa Boyd all finished with 12 digs.

"Farrah was a huge pickup for us," said Labrador.  "She took some swings that were clutch in tough spots."

Up Next
Navy will play Saturday at Colgate.