KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- After playing eight five-set matches during the 2025 season, the Navy volleyball team opened its 2026 slate with a five-set match Friday against Indiana State at the Western Michigan Invite in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Mids battled back from a very late fourth-set deficit to force a fifth set and then nearly staged another unlikely comeback in the final frame before falling to the Sycamores, 19-25, 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 15-12, in a season-opening match for both teams that lasted two and one-half hours.
"While we didn't get the result we wanted," said Navy head coach
Paco Labrador, there was a ton to like about the character of this team. We dug ourselves out of some pretty big holes tonight, which I love. Now we have to find more cohesive play to avoid those lulls in execution. When I went to the bench, every player who entered the match made a huge play and turned the tide for us. We are a very deep tea, and that's going to be something we can lean on all season.
Pacing the Navy offense was
Hailey Jacobus who, with 21 kills, registered the most kills by a freshman Mid in a season-opening match since box scores began being made available in 1993.
"Hailey had a great preseason," said Labrador. "She's something special and is only going to get better as our passing and setting connections improve. She scored in some really tough scenarios against a very experienced Indiana State block and defense."
Navy's eight five-set matches last year fell one short of tying the school Division I record (1991-present) for the most in a season. Navy has played nine five-set matches three times, with the last occurrence being in 2005. The Mids also lost a five-set match last season (15-12 in the fifth set to Boise State) in their first match of the campaign.
Set One
The score was tied seven times in the early part of the set, then Navy turned a 10-9 lead into a 15-11 advantage. It was a three-point difference at 15-12 and 16-13 before the Mids extended their cushion out to 21-14. Back came the Sycamores and soon it was a two-point margin at 21-19.
Caroline Buffum posted a kill (22-19), then Farah Eike registered a solo block and back-to-back kills to close out the frame.
Set Two
The Sycamores used a 5-0 run to take a 9-4 lead, then quickly extended their advantage out to 14-7. The difference grew to as many as 10 points at 19-9 before Navy put together a furious rally to close to within two points at 20-18. Indiana State answered with three-straight points to push the advantage out to 23-18 on its way to tying the match at one set each.
Set Three
Navy scored the first point of the frame and held a slim advantage for the majority of the set. The Mids were up 22-18 when Indiana State rattled off the ensuing five points to take its first lead of the set at 23-22. A kill by
Grace Burgoyne tied the score at 23-23, then a Navy service error took the Sycamores to set point at 24-23. A Jacobus kill tied the set again, but that was followed by an attack error from the Mids and a kill by Indiana State that gave the Sycamores the stanza.
Set Four
An early 4-0 run boosted Indiana State to a 9-5 advantage, which it soon turned into a 16-6 lead. Navy slowly climbed back and had a serve while trailing 16-12, but the Sycamores responded with a 3-1 run to regain a 19-13 lead. It soon was a 20-14 and 22-15 lead for the Sycamores.
An Indiana State attack error gave the serve to Navy, then an ace, a block and a kill for the Mids drew them to within 22-19. Three-straight Indiana State attack errors followed, which tied the set at 22-22. The teams traded kills to keep the sore knotted, then a bock by the tandem of
Ellen Gundlach and
Madeline Bildeaux took the Mids to set point, which they converted on a kill from Jacobus.
Set Five
Indiana State took an early 5-2 lead only to see Navy close to within one point at 6-5 and then tie the score at 7-7. Five-straight points by the Sycamores gave them a 12-7 lead, but Navy rallied again and trailed by just one point at 12-11. The teams exchanged points (13-12 ISU), then a kill by the Sycamores gave them the chance to serve for the match at 14-12.
Jacobus had a great chance to extend the match as it took a sprawling dig off of one of her attempts in the middle of the court to keep the play alive. Indiana State was able to bat the ball over the net and have it fall to the ground to end the two hour and 30 minute match.
Statistical Summary
Indiana State held slight statistical leads of 62-58 in kills and .213-.201 in hitting percentage. Much of the latter advantage was the result of the fifth set in which the Sycamores outhit the Mids .444-.190. Both teams finished with eight aces, while Indiana State narrowly won the defensive statistics with their advantages of 11-10 in blocks and 66-63 in digs.
Jacobus registered her 21 kills on 49 swings and recorded a .286 hitting percentage. Eike ranked second on the team in kills with 11 and added 10 digs to her stats line.
Amara Chambers reeled in a team-best 17 digs with setter
Isa Boyd grabbing 10 digs to go along with her 26 assists.
Up Next
Navy will face tournament-host Western Michigan Saturday at 6 p.m. and then Green Bay Sunday at 11 a.m.
"We will tighten up a few skills and keep fighting for each other Saturday against the Broncos and Sunday against the Phoenix," said Labrador.
