WEST POINT, N.Y – The Army Black Knights secured a straight-set win over rival Navy to take home the volleyball star in the first competition of the Army-Navy Star Series, presented by USAA, on Saturday night.
The Black Knights showed great resolve, technique, and power as they defeated their archrival in front of an electric crowd.
In the opening set, Army trailed 5-1 but scored nine of the next 12 points. The Black Knights continued to add to their lead, eventually forcing a timeout at 16-10 after a kill by Savannah Bray. Navy answered by cutting the lead to 17-14, but Army powered its way to a 25-19 first set win.
The second set featured 17 ties and seven lead changes with the Black Knights ultimately prevailing. Navy served for the set at 24-23, but Paige Fixemer tied the set with a kill. Army would not trail again. The Black Knights scored the last two points in the set on a kill by Bray and a block by Allanah Cutler and Kai Nickerson to win the set 28-26.
In similar fashion in the first set, Army fell behind early in the third set. After three lead changes, the set was tied at 11-11. A kill by Cutler started a string of five straight points for the Black Knights. An attacking error by the Mids gave Army a 19-12 lead.The Black Knights continued to pull away and served for the match at 23-17. After a couple of points by Navy, the Black Knights won the match on an service error.
Army swept Navy for the first time since November 6, 2015 (14 matches).
