Navy Ends Regular Season With Sweep :: Three Mids finish match with double figure kills

Nov. 10, 2007

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Navy volleyball team closed its regular season by recording a three-game sweep over Lehigh, Friday night in Bethlehem, Pa. The 30-20, 30-25, 30-24 victory was Navy's fourth in a row and allowed the Mids to end the year with a 21-11 overall record and an 8-6 mark in Patriot League matches.

Navy garnered the No. 4 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, which is slated to be played Nov. 16-17 at American. The Mids will face the tournament host and No. 1 seeded-Eagles in the semifinal round Friday.

"It was a good match for us to end the regular season with," said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "We didn't have a let down after clinching our playoff berth Friday (with a win over Lafayette). Everyone played tonight and everyone contributed to the win."

Navy used runs at almost the same point in each of the three games to separate itself from Lehigh. Game one was tied at 15-15 when the Mids scored eight of the next nine points to take a 23-16 lead, the second game saw Navy break open a 16-16 game with a 7-1 run, and a 5-1 run gave Navy a 22-17 lead in the third game.

The Mids totaled 54 kills and hit .254 in the match, while holding the Mountain Hawks to 33 kills and a .121 attack percentage. Navy also held advantages of 9-2 in service aces and 54-42 in digs.

One of the key components to Navy's victory tonight was the play of middle blockers Alexa Gibbs (Jr., Springfield, Ill.) and Krista Eschelman (So., Germantown, Md.). Both players finished the match with 12 kills, while Gibbs added four blocks and Eschelman hit .632 in the contest.

Additionally, Rachel Dougherty (Sr., Derwood, Md.) contributed 11 kills and four service aces for Navy.

Lehigh's offense was paced by Shannon Spafford's nine kills.