Volleyball Outlasts Navy In Five-Set Thriller

Friday, October 21

Annapolis, MD

7 P.M.

Army West Point

12-8,8-2Patriot

United States Naval Academy

10-9,7-3Patriot

Army West Point

Navy

Volleyball Outlasts Navy In Five-Set Thriller

October 21, 2022 | Volleyball

Box Score

Match 20
SCORE	Army Black Knights 3, Navy Midshipmen 2 (25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11)
RECORDS	Army (12-8, 8-2 Patriot League) \| Navy (10-9, 7-3 Patriot League)
LOCATION	Brown Field House

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Black Knights secured the regular-season sweep of rival Navy for the first time since 2015 after completing a comeback victory in five sets on Friday night.

Match Synopsis
The Black Knights battled past their archrivals behind timely hitting and a fierce blocking game. The win may prove vital in Army's quest for a regular-season title as well as seeding in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament. The Black Knights entered the match in second place, one game behind Colgate and tied with Navy; Army now holds the tie-breaker over the Mids after outlasting them in five sets.

Army opened the match on a 9-0 scoring run and led comfortably on its way to a 25-19 first win. However, Navy responded by taking the next two sets. The Mids closed out the second set on a 5-1 run to win the set, 25-21. Navy held off Army in the third set, 25-22, to lead the match 2-1.

The Black Knights grinded their way to force the fifth and deciding set by wining the fourth set, 25-22.

Army had its best offensive performance in the fifth set, finishing with a .438 hitting percentage. The Black and Gold never trailed as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead with two kills by Savannah Bray and an ace by Diana Ethridge. Army led 8-2 when Navy cut the lead to 11-8. Though, the Black Knights didn't blink as they pulled away to wrap up the set, 15-11, to clinch the match.

Cadets Capsules

Savannah Bray led the match with a career-high 20 kills which are tied for the most by a Black Knight this season. She also added eight digs.
Allanah Cutler had 16 kills with a team-best .371 hitting percentage, added nine digs, and five block assists.
Alyssa Lukasik had a career-high eight blocks (seven block assists and one solo).
Diana Ethridge chipped in a match-high 46 assists and had nine digs.
Sayler Butters had a match-high 17 digs.
Mackenzie Karnig contributed 10 digs.

Inside the Numbers

The Black Knights swept the regular-season series for the first time 2015.
Alma Kovaci Lee is five wins away from 300 career wins.
The 56 assists are the most in a five-set match and are third most this season.
Army's 15 blocks are tied for the most this season and the 22 block assists are the most

Coach's Corner
"I'm so proud of our grit and poise. This is what an Army-Navy (match) should be like. In these matches, it's not always who the best team is but who can manage emotions and be where your feet are. Allanah (Cutler) got us out of tough situations today, but the entire team was awesome! Great win against Navy but also a critical win in our standings and the quest to become champions." – Alma Kovaci Lee

Up Next

Army visits American University on Saturday, October 22 at 5 p.m.

For complete coverage of Army West Point women's volleyball, follow the Black Knights on Twitter and Instagram at @ArmyWP_VB and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.