LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Navy volleyball team fought back from a 2-1 deficit in sets to record a five-set victory over Bucknell, Tuesday night at Davis Gym in Lewisburg, Pa. The 21-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22, 15-8 victory by the fifth-seeded Mids (13-13) over the fourth-seeded Bison (12-14) in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament advances Navy to Friday's semifinal round. The Mids will make the drive to Washington, D.C., for a 6:30 p.m. match against the tournament's host and top-seeded team American.
The 3 p.m. semifinal features No. 2 Colgate vs. No. 3 Army.
"I think both teams played their hearts out tonight," said Navy head coach
Paco Labrador, who has now posted a 5-0 record in the first round of the tournament. "Bucknell is relentless and can score in runs of points that keeps them in every set.
"The culture on this team is special and we are grateful to have a few more days to practice and compete together."
Set One
Navy had a great start to the match as it took early leads of 8-2, 14-6 and 17-9. The lead was soon trimmed to 21-16 when Bucknell scored the next nine points to take a 1-0 lead.
Set Two
Navy again took a slim early lead before it build a six-point cushion on several occasions including at 19-13. Again Bucknell responded and soon it was a 20-17 lead for the Mids.
Farrah Eike notched back-to-back kills to make it a five-point margin, but the Bison quickly cut it down to one point at 22-21 and then 23-22.
Caroline Buffum posted a kill to double the lead and take the Mids to set point. She then registered another kill to even the match at one set each.
Set Three
Bucknell was the team to have a good start in set three as it took a 7-3 lead. From there, though, Navy was able to keep the deficit at one or two points until the Mids gained a 17-16 lead. The score would be tied at both 17-17 and 18-18, then the Bison took a 21-19 lead. Navy drew to within one point at 21-20 before a 4-0 run by Bucknell gave it the third set.
Set Four
Bucknell held an early 6-3 lead only to see Navy take a 10-7 advantage. The Mids maintained a slim multiple-point lead until it dwindled to one point at 23-22. Eike posted a kill to make the score 24-22, then a Bucknell attack error sent the match to a fifth set.
Set Five
Navy took 4-1 and 7-2 leads at the start of the set only to see Bucknell close to within two points at 8-6. The teams traded points (9-7), then another kill by the Bison made the score 9-8. A Bucknell attack error gave Navy a 10-8 lead, with a block by the tandem of Eike and
Siena Morgan following that stretched the lead to 11-8. The Bison called timeout, but another block by Eike and Morgan made the score 12-8. From there, a kill by
Anuhea Hauanio-Lore and back-to-back kills by Eike closed the match that lasted two hours and 14 minutes.
"It was a fun match because we had some players be extremely effective in sets, but Bucknell adjusted and we had to shift our offense around constantly," said Labrador. "We had some great momentum early in the fifth set with our block and our defense sealed the match."
Statistical Summary
Navy totaled 64 kills, a .215 hitting percentage and 14 blocks, while Bucknell amassed 56 kills, hit .156 and added eight blocks. The Mids held a 6-1 lead in aces, but also a 16-7 lead in service errors.
Offensively for Navy, Buffum tallied 18 kills, Eike finished with 16 kills and Hauanio-Lore had 11.
Arleigh Hanson dished out 27 assists,
Lainey Feighery had 25 assists and libero
Amara Chambers had 10 assists. Chambers also led the Navy passers with 21 digs, while Hanson added 17 digs. Keying the net defense was
Ava Toppin with four solo blocks and nine blocks overall. Also, Morgan and Eike each finished with five blocks.
"Caroline really carried us early," said Labrador, "but Farrah scored down the stretch when we needed her. "Siena played a great match both as a blocker and a really steady hitter. We asked a lot of Amara on defense tonight and she made some pursuit plays when we needed them. Anu is the epitome of a warrior; she was as locked in as I have seen her."
