KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Green Bay (1-2) went on runs late in each set of 25-17, 25-21, 25-20 victory over the Navy volleyball team (0-3), Sunday in Kalamazoo, Mich., during the final day of the season-opening Western Michigan Invite.
"We never really got started today," said Navy head coach
Paco Labrador. "We were playing from behind from the start, and that's tough when you're playing a team who found a great rhythm offensively.
"This weekend was a great opportunity to see three teams who are all at or above the physicality and consistent level of play that we will need to compete with the top teams in the Patriot League.
Set One
Navy trailed by anywhere from 1 to 4 points during the first half of the set until Green Bay used a 4-0 run to open up a 17-11 lead. The Mids quickly scored the ensuing four points to draw to within 17-15. Two points for the Phoenix were followed by a point for the Mids (19-16), then Green Bay scored the next two points to build a 21-16 lead. Navy answered with a kill (21-17), but the Phoenix scored the next four points to claim the opening set.
Each team tallied 11 kills in the set, but Green Bay held leads of 5-2 in aces and 3-1 in blocks.
Set Two
The start of the frame was a close one as there were 10 ties through 19-19 and the largest lead for either team during that span was two points. Navy broke the tie with a pair of kills (21-19), which led to the team from Titletown calling timeout. Green Bay responded with back-to-back kills to tie the set for the 11th time at 21-21. A Navy attack error followed, which resulted in a timeout by the Mids. Another Navy attack error made the score 23-21 and caused a second timeout being called by Labrador. The Phoenix registered an ace after the break to reach set point with a 24-21 lead, then notched a kill to end the frame.
Set Three
The third set was similar to the second in that the score was tied 10 times through 18-18. The Phoenix broke the tie with a pair of kills, which caused Labrador to call timeout and the Mids trailing 20-18. The stoppage in play worked as Green Bay committed a service error when play resumed, but then scored on a kill to regain a two-point lead at 21-19. Two more kills for the Phoenix pushed the margin to four points at 23-19. A Navy kill was followed by a block for the Phoenix that took them to match point. Another Green Bay block closed the match.
Statistical Summary
Navy finished with just seven fewer kills than Green Bay, 43-36, but committed three times as many attack errors, 18-6. That resulted in the Phoenix holding a .394-.186 advantage in hitting percentage.
Most of the remainder of the team statistics were nearly equal as Green Bay totaled 6 aces, 9 service errors, 36 digs and 7 blocks while Navy recorded 6 aces, 8 service errors, 40 digs and 4 blocks.
Ellen Gundlach with 9 kills and
Farrah Eike with 8 led the Navy offense, while
Siena Morgan had 6 kills an no errors on 10 attempts for a .600 hitting percentage. Defensively,
Amara Chambers snared 11 digs to key the passers.
Setter
Isa Boyd was Navy's representative on the all-tournament team. She dished out 52 assists and ranked second on the team to Chambers with 23 digs over the course of the weekend.
"We have work to do," said Labrador. "Next week is a new week and we will get back into the gum and continue to be intentional."
Up Next
Navy returns to Annapolis to play host to the 15th edition of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational Friday through Sunday at the Wesley A. Brown Field House. The Mids will play Coppin State Friday at 6 p.m. before facing Penn Saturday at 4 p.m. and Stony Brook Sunday at 3 p.m.
