WEST POINT, N.Y. - A balanced attack that saw four players record double-digit kills led the Navy volleyball team to a four-set victory over Army Friday night at Gillis Field House in the annual Star Match –– part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA –– between the teams.
The Mids defeated the Black Knights, 13-25, 26-24, 25-18, 26-24.
The win was the first for the Mids in a Star Match played at West Point since 2005. Navy had lost five-set Star Matches in four of their last five trips to Army for the match.
"This team shows up and works hard each day," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador. "This win is a reflection of that. I can't say enough about the poise and support each player contributed to this match.
"It is pretty special that we had all four firsties on the floor to win the match. They have been tremendous leaders and fully bought in since day one."
Set One
The opening set has been a struggle for Navy this year as it entered today with a 1-5 record in the frame since the start of the Patriot League season. This evening was no exception as Army hit .353 and held Navy to a .054 mark during the victory by the Black Knights.
Navy was within two points at 11-9 only to see Army build 14-9 and 17-11 advantages.
Set Two
Navy has been successful at bouncing back from the first set as the Mids began today with a 12-5 record in sets two through five against league foes. That too continued today as the Mids quickly regrouped and took a 12-5 lead in the second set. Army answered and knotted the score at 16-16.
After another exchange of points (17-17), the Mids received a sideout and scored on their serve to take a 19-17 lead. The teams again traded points before Army tied the score again at 21-21. A block by the tandem of Ellen Gundlach and Avery Maddux was followed by a second block from the duo of Siena Morgan and Caroline Buffum, which gave the Mids a 23-21 lead. Navy then reached set point following a kill from Buffum. A Navy attack error and an Army kill drew the Black Knights to within 24-23 and led to a timeout being called by Labrador.
The halt in play didn't slow down Army as another kill by the Black Knights tied the score at 24-24. However, Buffum recorded consecutive kills to even the match at one set each.
Set Three
Navy kept the momentum going from its win as it raced out to a 12-3 lead and never let Army close to fewer than five points.
Set Four
The Mids tried to run away from the Black Knights for a second set, but the 7-1 Navy lead was erased as Army sliced the deficit down to 8-7 and soon tied the proceedings at 12-12. Navy regained a modest 16-14 lead only to have Army score the next four points and take an 18-16 advantage. The Black Knights eventually took a 20-17 lead, but the Mids rallied and tied the frame at 20-20.
An Army timeout followed and the Black Knights responded with the next three points to take a 23-20 lead. After an Army service error cut the score to 23-21, a kill took the Black Knights to set point with a 24-21 lead.
Buffum extended play with a kill (24-22), which sent Ally Alessio into the match for the first time and to the service line. An Army attack error made it a 24-23 score, then Morgan posted a kill to tie the score at 24-24. Alessio promptly registered an ace to take the Mids to match point, which they converted on a block by Buffum and Morgan.
"Ally is the hero of the match," said Labrador. "I can't tell you how hard it is to come in cold off the bench and do what she did."
Statistical Summary
Army led Navy in nearly every statistical category: 53-50 in kills, .191-.188 in hitting percentage, 51-47 in assists, 9-8 in aces, 80-71 in digs and 8-7 in blocks. Each team had 8 service errors and the Mids had three fewer attack errors (20-23).
Gundlach paced the Navy offense with 13 kills, but Buffum had 12 and Farrah Eike and Morgan each had 10. Eike also snared 19 digs to fall one shy of tying Amara Chambers for the team lead. Morgan added five blocks to the defense while Isa Boyd had 26 assists and 9 digs and Kinamoni Jerome finished with 17 assists and 5 digs.
"We found good balance in the offense," said Labrador, " but credit Army for making it a chore for our attack to actually hit the floor. Farrah, Caroline, Ellen and Siena all came up with clutch kills when we needed them."