Army West Point Sweeps Navy In Three Set Thriller

ANNAPOLIS, MD. – After Army and Navy last clashed in a knockdown, drag out five-set battle in September that saw Army claim the thrilling victory and the coveted Star Match as part of the Army-Navy Star Series, presented by USAA, the two teams settled in for a hard night’s work at the Wesley Brown Fieldhouse.

Kingsley Wallace kicked things off in Army’s favor with a fast-paced kill to open the scoring for Army. Wallace and freshman middle blocker Victoria Kasanganay combined to push Army up to a 3-1 lead as Kasanganay delivered a solo block that the duo immediately followed with a combined block against Navy’s middle blocker.

A 4-1 run for the Midshipmen brought Navy into the lead, but Army took advantage of a pair of Navy errors and a rocket of a kill from junior outside hitter Mackenzie Lynch to step back into the 7-5 lead.

The Mids continued to challenge Army’s resolve, cutting their lead and at times stepping ahead briefly themselves, but Army’s team maintained their composure to a 22-19 advantage on a block from the duo of Wallace and Kasanganay.

Navy’s squad strung together a 5-1 run with efficient work from their front row to earn the first set point opportunity of the match, but an emphatic kill from Lynch that ricocheted off the arms of Navy’s libero brought the match tied with 24 points all.

Freshman middle blocker Tatum Grimes gave Army their own set point opportunity with a deep push tip that fell behind Army’s right back defender.

Grimes then teamed up with sophomore setter Juliette Myrick to deny an attack from Navy’s outside hitter and claim the first set 26-24.

Not willing to give in so easily on their home court, Navy blazed ahead to a 5-2 lead is the second frame began with an aggressive set of work from their front row.

Wallace buried a kill down the line at the feet of Navy’s left back defender on a serve receive attempt for Army to change the tune and set off Army’s response.

Freshman libero Nicole Stroud answered Wallace’s call with a service ace to bring the Black Knights within one point of the Mids.

A four point run for the Black Knights gave Army the lead for the first time in the second set but Navy responded with a four point run of their own to reclaim a 10-8 lead just minutes later.

As the two teams traded blows, it was a four point run and a trio of kills from Chloe Murakami, Kasanganay, and Wallace that helped Army edge ahead of the Mids.

Navy drew within one point of the Black Knights at 18-17 for Army on back-to-back service errors from both teams before a service run from freshman setter Naomi Chinchar with kills from Grimes, Myrick, and Lynch as well as a one-handed solo block for Lynch to stop Navy’s middle brought the Black Knights to a 22-17 lead.

A kill and a block for the Mids could not stop Army’s momentum, however, and the Black Knights secured the second set 25-19 with a cross-court slide kill from Tatum Grimes.

The Mids fought to stay close to Army as the third set began but Army’s momentum after claiming the first two sets would be undeniable as the Black Knights soon compiled a six-point lead to go up 10-4 on a service ace for Lynch and an attacking error for Navy.

Army’s offense continued to hammer the Navy defense while their own back court worked tirelessly to deny Navy of critical points.

In a one, two punch of offense and defense, Myrick notched her fifth kill of the night to bring Army to a 20-15 lead that was immediately extended by yet another block for the Wallace and Kasanganay duo to push army six points ahead of the host team.

Kills from Army outsides Murakami and Lynch brought the Black Knights to the doorstep of the potential sweep, but it was back to back blocks for Tatum Grimes, first with Lynch and then with Wallace that made the sweep a reality with their 25-19 set three win.