BALTIMORE, Md. (October 5, 2015) -- The U.S. Military Academy at West Point volleyball team blanked Loyola, 3-0, Oct. 3, in a conference match up with set scores of 25-16, 25-18 and 25-18.
"We played a lot better today," said head coach Alma Kovaci. "I am proud of how the team performed today. We served and blocked more aggressively and we will continue to get better."
The Black Knights improve to 11-6 on the season and 3-1 in the Patriot League after today's victory. Cadet Nicole Perri led with 10 kills on 24 attempts. Cadet Carolyn Bockrath (6), Cadet Jaden Pickell (5), Cadet Vanessa Wesley (5) and Cadet Olivia Fairfield (4) all contributed in the win. Defensively, Cadet Shannel Chong tallied 16 digs, while Wesley recorded three solo blocks.
In the first set, Army jumped out to a 5-2 lead with kills from Perri, Wesley and Pickell as well as a service ace by Chong. The Greyhounds came back to tie the score 12-12, but the Black Knights went on a four point run to secure a 16-12 lead. Edwards assisted Bockrath before three errors by Loyola.
Army then went on an 8-1 run to clinch the first set 25-16. Edwards assisted Perri and Bockrath in the stretch, while Wesley and Perri added blocking points.
Army continued to show dominance throughout the second set. The Black Knights led 16-9 before the Greyhounds were able to fight back two points to bring the score to 16-11. An error by Loyola and a kill by Fairfield contributed two points in favor of the Black Knights before Pickell tallied another kill.
After gaining a 23-15 lead, the Greyhounds tallied three more points before Alexandra Bell recorded a kill and a service error by Loyola gave Army 25 points to clinch the second set.
The Black Knights and Greyhounds jockeyed back and forth for points early in the third set before Army was able to pull away and win the match. With the score at 14-12 in favor of the Black Knights, a kill and ace by Fairfield, a kill by Pickell and a handful of errors by the Greyhounds provided Army six-straight points.
Loyola fought back to come within four at 20-16, but Army continued to pull through with a kill and ace by Pickell and a kill by Edwards from Ellie Peterson. Rachel Gearon tallied the Black Knights' 24th point before a Greyhounds error completed the match.
The Black Knights will return to Gillis Field House Oct. 9-10 when it hosts Lafayette and service academy rival Navy for 7 p.m. contests.
Related Links:
Army West Point Athletics website
U.S. Military Academy at West Point website
U.S. Army Garrison West Point website
Army West Point Athletics Facebook
Social Sharing