ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Cornell fought off a pair of furious challenges from the Navy volleyball team in the second and third sets to post a 25-17, 25-23, 25-22 victory over the Mids Saturday night at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis.  The match was part of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational.

"We always appreciate the teams who join us for this tournament which we play in Kristen's name," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "Each team played with tremendous heart, which is the best way to honor Kristen's memory.

"I thought our game plan tonight was solid and our blocking and defense did some nice things to limit Cornell and contain Eliza Konvica (8 kills, .143 hitting percentage). We still have some attack areas to tighten up offensively."

Set One
The score was tied at 9-9 when Cornell went on a 6-0 run to take a 15-9 lead. The Big Red were able to maintain a lead of around that span for the rest of the set.

Set Two
Cornell scored the first five points of the frame and took seven-point leads at 12-5, 13-6 and 16-9.  It was a 19-13 lead for the visitors when the Mids scored the next six points to tie the score at 19-19.  Arleigh Hanson recorded a trio of service aces during that 6-0 spurt.

The Big Red answered with a 3-0 run only to see the Mids winnow the margin back down to one point at 22-21 and then tie the score at 23-23 on a blocking error.

A Navy service error gave Cornell set point, which it converted on an ace.

Set Three
Cornell again erupted at the start of the set as this time it built leads of 6-0 and 7-1.  Navy drew to within one point at 12-11, 13-12 and 14-13.  The Big Red used a 4-0 run to take an 18-13 advantage and soon held a 22-18 lead.  Three-straight points by the Mids brought them to within one point at 22-21.  The teams traded kills (23-22), then a Cornell kill and a Navy attack error closed the match.

Inside the Numbers
Navy had one of its better defensive efforts of its two-week season as it limited Cornell to 36 kills a .163 hitting percentage.  The Mids registered 27 kills and a .054 hitting mark of their own. Cornell also held leads of 37-31 in digs and 12-6 in blocks.

Paige Buzzerio posted a Navy-best seven kills in the match. Hannah Hoover's 11 digs and Ava Toppin's three blocks paced the team in the defensive categories.

"Emerson Lionberger was a game changer in the third set as she scored on some big swings when we needed her," said Labrador.

Up Next
Navy will conclude its non-league slate of matches next weekend at the George Mason Invitational.  The Mids will face Quinnipiac and George Mason on Friday and then take on Old Dominion on Saturday. 

Kristen Dickmann Invitational Results
Liberty def. Navy, 3-9 (25-17, 25-16, 25-19)
Cornell def. Liberty, 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-18)
UC San Diego def. Navy, 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-18)
Liberty def. UC San Diego, 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 15-10)
Cornell def. Navy, 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-22)
UC San Diego def. Cornell, 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 17-25, 25-22)
** UCSD is determined the tournament champion due to sets won