EASTON, Pa. -- The Navy volleyball team emerged with a hard-fought four-set victory over Lafayette, Friday night at the Kirby Sports Center in Easton, Pa. The Mids (10-10, 8-4) posted a 26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 25-22 victory over the Leopards (6-16, 0-12).
There were 33 ties and 15 lead changes in the match.
Navy also recorded a narrow four-set win (23-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-22) over Lafayette back on Sept. 25 in Annapolis.
"Lafayette really came after us from the service line tonight," said Navy head coach
Paco Labrador. "We never felt comfortable in our first-ball attack, but our outside hitters found ways to score in really tough scenarios.
"There are no easy matches in the Patriot League, and I am proud of how we keep finding ways to win."
Set One
Neither team held any kind of significant lead, then the score was tied at every point from 16-16 through 22-22. Navy took a 24-22 lead on a kill and a Lafayette attack error, then the Leopards erased a pair of set points against them with a kill and an ace. A block by the Mids gave Navy a third chance to win the set, but an attack error tied the score against at 25-25. Lafayette took a 26-25 lead with another Navy attack error, but the Mids scored on a kill to again tie the frame. Navy committed a service error -- its fifth of the set against just one for Lafayette, then a Navy attack error gave the opening set to the Leopards.
Set Two
After a close start to the set, Navy turned a 10-9 deficit into a 14-10 lead that soon grew to 17-12. Back came the Leopards and it soon was a 20-19 lead for the Mids. A kill and an ace stretched the margin back to three points at 22-19, but a Navy attack error, a Lafayette ace and another ace tied the score at 22-22. The teams traded kills (23-23), then kills by
Siena Morgan and
Caroline Buffum gave the Mids the second set.
Set Three
Navy had a great start to the set as it jumped out to a 9-4 lead. The Leopards answered and they drew to within one point at 10-9. The Mids responded and soon held an 18-10 advantage and they would lead by at least four points in taking a 2-1 lead in sets.
Set Four
Navy held a lead of as many as four points at 15-11 and 17-13 only to see Lafayette tie the score at 18-18. It would again be tied at 19-19, 20-20, 21-21 and 22-22. A Lafayette ball-handling error followed by an attack error took the Mids to match point with a 24-22 lead. Buffum knocked down a kill to close the match that lasted 130 minutes.
Statistical Summary
Navy held a 65-52 lead in kills, which allowed the Mids to hold a .236-.172 lead in hitting percentage. Navy also finished with 8 service aces and an equal number of errors, while Lafayette had 6 aces and 4 service errors. Defensively, the Mids held leads of 85-72 in digs and 8-6 in blocks.
Ellen Gundlach (15), Buffum (14) and
Farrah Eike (13) combined for 42 of the team's 65 kills. Setter
Isa Boyd posted another double-double with 33 assists and 12 digs, while Buffum grabbed 10 digs to notch a double-double of her own.
Amara Chambers led the Mids with 25 digs and Morgan recorded a team-best 6 blocks.
"Amara was really locked in," said Labrador. "Lafayette moves the ball around well and she was stretched but made plays to keep us in rallies."
Up Next
Navy will play at Bucknell Saturday at 5 p.m.
