ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- American's offense improved in each set as the Eagles (11-4, 6-0) recorded a 28-26, 25-16, 25-15 victory over the Navy volleyball team (6-8, 4-2), Sunday afternoon at the Meltzer Center in Washington, D.C.
"American has so many weapons on offense that we had to pick some battles," said Navy head coach
Paco Labrador. "I think we contained a couple of their hitters well. As our defense improves this season, we will be taking one step closer to competing with American."
Set One
The Mids played well in the opening set, which featured 14 ties and six lead changes.
Navy held an 18-16 lead before American scored the next four points to take a 20-18 lead. The Eagles soon held a 21-19 lead when the Mids scored the next three points to regain a 22-21 lead. The teams traded the next three points (23-23), then a block by
Farrah Eike took Navy to set point with a 24-23 advantage. American answered with a kill to extend play (24-24), then a service error by the Eagles gave Navy a 25-24 lead and another chance to serve for the frame.
American answered with a kill (25-25), then a Navy attack error gave the Eagles their first chance to serve for the frame (26-25).
Avery Maddux notched a kill to again keep play going (26-26), then dropped back to serve. Her offering went between two American players before falling in the vicinity of the end line, with the line judge calling it long. Labrador challenged the call due to how close to end line the ball fell, but there was an issue with the video replay system which meant the play was ruled inconclusive and the call that gave American a 27-26 advantage stood as opposed to it being overturned and Navy serving with the same lead. The Eagles ended the lengthy set on the next play with a kill.
Set Two
American jumped out to a 7-2 lead and Navy struggled to climb back into the frame as the Eagles hit .355 and the Mids .073.
Set Three
The score was tied at 9-9 when American ran off three-straight points. Navy drew to within 12-10, but the Eagles quickly built a 16-10 lead that kept the Mids at bay. The Eagles hit even better in this set than they did in the previous one as they recorded a .406 mark to the .077 effort by the Mids.
Statistical Summary
The Eagled ended the match with 48 kills and a .336 hitting percentage while the Mids tallied 31 kills and a .131 mark. Aiding that offensive disparity was American recording 50 digs and 9.0 blocks on defense in contrast to the 45 digs and 4.0 blocks accrued by the Mids.
Ellen Gundlach led Navy with 8 kills and 2 blocks while Eike totaled 6 kills and a team-best 8 digs.
"Both of our setters,
Isa Boyd and
Caroline Adams, did an incredible job today to give our hitters chances to score," said Labrador. "We are a hard working team and I'm looking forward to us getting back in the gym and getting better this week."
Up Next
Navy travels to West Point for a Friday night match at Army. The 7 p.m. contest is this year's Star Match, part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA.
