ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Liberty (2-1) used an effective serving performance to record 16 aces during a 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-19) victory over the Navy (0-4) volleyball team, Thursday night at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis. The match was Navy's home opener and the first of six as part of the four-day Kristen Dickmann Invitational.

"We are still working out who can be in our primary passer positions," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "We tried a few different lineups to look for the mental toughness and chemistry required to handle the serve receive part of the game."

Set One
It was a 9-8 Liberty lead when it opened up a 17-9 cushion to build a margin Navy couldn't cut into.

The Flames posted 10 kills and a .444 hitting percentage in the set and limited the Mids to 5 kills and a (-).053 attack percentage.

Set Two
Liberty scored seven of the first eight points of the set only to see Navy claw back to within three points at 8-5.  The Flames again built some separation (12-5) before the Mids drew to within one point at 15-14.  Liberty scored back-to-back points as part of a run that gave it a 21-15 cushion.

Navy was able to increase its kill total to eight, but still hit negative (-.033) for the frame.

Set Three
Neither team held any significant lead through the first half of the set.  Liberty soon turned a 14-13 lead into a 19-14 advantage.  Navy rallied and made it a two-point difference at 21-19, but the Flames tallied the next four points to close out the match.

Inside the Numbers
Liberty totaled 33 kills, a .244 hitting percentage and 7.5 blocks to go along with its 16 aces.  Conversely, Navy recorded 22 kills, a .025 hitting percentage, 8 aces and just 1 block.

Doris Nelson posted seven kills to lead the Navy offense while Hannah Hoover snared nine digs to pace the passers.  Ava Toppin and Anuhea Hauanio-Lore each had four kills.

"Doris and Ava did some really nice things for us offensively," said Labrador.  "We are all hungry to get back out on the court tomorrow and take a position step forward as a team."

Up Next
Friday's matches feature Cornell playing Liberty at 3 p.m. and Navy facing UC San Diego at 7 p.m.