Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
8-12, 4-4PL
Lafayette
4-15, 1-6PL
Volleyball Bounces Back in Five Sets at Lafayette
October 11, 2014 | Volleyball
Oct. 11, 2014
EASTON, Pa. - Playing its second road match in as many nights, the Army volleyball team delivered a 3-2 victory over Lafayette on Saturday night at Kirby Sports Center. After dropping the first set 25-21, Army bounced back to win the next two games, 25-10 and 25-18, before losing 25-23 and taking the decisive fifth 15-4.
The Black Knights moved to 8-12 overall and 4-4 in Patriot League matches and Lafayette dipped to 4-15 on the year, including a 1-5 mark in conference tilts. Head coach Alma Kovaci improved 15-0 in matches against Lafayette.
After Lafayette came away with a 25-23 win in the fourth set, Army wasted no time in taking control of the fifth frame and the match. Amber Clay scored the first three points as Army went ahead 8-1 on three consecutive service aces by the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week. Clay earned her second double-double of the season with 16 kills and 10 digs. A Lafayette miscue, a kill by Nicole Perri and Carolyn Bockrath's second kill of the set pushed the lead to 11-1. The Black Knights finished off the set by a 15-4 final.
Perri and Bockrath each posted 17 kills with Bockrath hitting .500 and Perri at .417. Bockrath's 17 kills tied a season high for the rookie, while classmate Jaden Pickell set a new career mark with a .381 hitting percentage with nine kills. Setter Vanessa Edwards recorded a double-double with a season-high 61 assists and 13 digs and added three aces. Senior Deanna Dalton posted a match-and-season high 22 digs and Janaya Simmons' 11 digs were a season-high.
"Tonight was an important win on the road for us," Kovaci said. "I'm glad we were able to close out the match. We have to give credit to Lafayette as they played tough at some critical moments, but we still have a lot of work to do. I am looking forward to practice on Monday and Tuesday as we prepare for our match against NJIT on Wednesday."
Lafayette opened up a five point lead in the first set with four consecutive points after the score was 12-11 in favor of the home team. The Black Knights got back in the game with a 6-3 spurt, capped by a Gearon kill (19-17), but Lafayette went on to the 25-21 triumph. Gearon's nine kills set a new career standard.
Set two was all Army, as the Black Knights scored five of the first six points and held a 12-4 lead en route to leveling the match at a set apiece.
The momentum continued in the third for Army. Lafayette took an early 6-3 advantage, but Army responded with six of the next seven points to build a lead it would never relinquish. Leading 18-16 after four straight from the Leopards, the Black Knights closed the set with a 7-2 run.
Army's next match against NJIT is schedule for 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening at Gillis Field House. The match can be seen live on Knight Vision.
