Navy Volleyball Rallies Past Army in Four Sets to Capture Historic Star Match Victory at West Point
By Brian Hradsky Maryland Sports Blog | October 11, 2026
The Navy Midshipmen women’s volleyball team defeated the Army Black Knights 3-1 Friday night, October 9, at Gillis Field House in West Point, New York, capturing a significant victory in one of college athletics’ fiercest rivalries. After dropping the opening set, Navy rallied to win three consecutive sets, 13-25, 26-24, 25-18 and 26-24, to secure the annual Army-Navy Star Match. The victory marked Navy’s first Star Match win at West Point since 2005, ending a lengthy drought on Army’s home court.
The Midshipmen improved to 7-8 overall and 5-2 in Patriot League competition, while Army fell to 10-6 overall and 4-3 in conference play. Four Navy players recorded double-digit kills, demonstrating the balanced offensive production that helped the Midshipmen overcome a difficult start. Navy also displayed remarkable composure during the closing moments, erasing a three-point deficit with Army holding match point in the fourth set.
Army Dominates Opening Set
Army controlled the opening set behind an efficient offensive performance, recording a .353 hitting percentage while limiting Navy to .054. The Black Knights established an early advantage and gradually extended their lead, turning an 11-9 score into a comfortable margin. Navy struggled to establish offensive consistency, committing seven attack errors while recording nine kills. Army eventually closed out the set 25-13, putting the Midshipmen in an early hole.
The opening-set struggles continued a season-long pattern for Navy, which entered the contest with a 1-5 record in first sets during Patriot League competition. However, the Midshipmen had also demonstrated an ability to respond after slow starts. That resilience became particularly important against an Army squad playing in front of its home crowd.
Navy Responds With Dramatic Second-Set Victory
Navy quickly regained momentum in the second set, jumping ahead 12-5 behind improved offensive execution and aggressive play at the net. Army gradually worked its way back into contention, eventually tying the score at 16 before the teams exchanged several points. Consecutive blocks involving Ellen Gundlach, Avery Maddux, Siena Morgan and Caroline Buffum helped Navy establish a 23-21 advantage. The Midshipmen eventually reached set point, but Army battled back to tie the score at 24.
With the set hanging in the balance, Buffum delivered two consecutive kills to secure a 26-24 victory and even the match at one set apiece. Her late offensive production prevented Army from completing its comeback and gave Navy renewed confidence heading into the third set. The Midshipmen had survived their first major test of the evening, shifting the momentum of the rivalry matchup.
Midshipmen Take Control in Third Set
Navy carried its momentum into the third set, building a commanding 12-3 advantage and forcing Army to play from behind. The Midshipmen combined improved defensive positioning with more efficient attacking, preventing the Black Knights from establishing sustained offensive pressure. Army managed to reduce the deficit but never pulled within five points of Navy. The Midshipmen closed out the set 25-18 to take a 2-1 match advantage.
Navy’s defense played a major role in the third-set turnaround, holding Army to a .025 hitting percentage. The Black Knights committed nine attack errors and managed just 10 kills during the frame. Meanwhile, Navy recorded 13 kills and hit .237, showing significant improvement from its first two sets. The performance put the Midshipmen one set away from a historic victory.
Incredible Fourth-Set Comeback Secures Victory
The fourth set delivered the most dramatic moments of the evening as Navy jumped ahead 7-1 before Army mounted a comeback. The Black Knights erased the early deficit, eventually taking an 18-16 lead and later moving ahead 23-20. Army reached set point at 24-21, appearing poised to force a decisive fifth set. However, Navy refused to surrender and produced five consecutive points to complete an extraordinary comeback.
Buffum began the rally with a kill that reduced Army’s lead to 24-22, setting the stage for a critical substitution. Ally Alessio entered the match for the first time and immediately made an impact from the service line, helping force an Army attack error. Morgan followed with a kill to tie the score at 24 before Alessio delivered a service ace that gave Navy match point. Buffum and Morgan then combined for the winning block, completing a 26-24 victory and sending the Midshipmen into celebration.
Balanced Offensive Attack Leads Navy
Navy’s offensive balance proved essential, with four players reaching double figures in kills during the victory. Gundlach led the Midshipmen with 13 kills, while Buffum contributed 12 and delivered several crucial points during the second and fourth sets. Farrah Eike and Morgan each finished with 10 kills, giving Army multiple offensive threats to defend throughout the match. Morgan also contributed five blocks, strengthening Navy’s presence at the net.
Eike provided a strong all-around performance with 19 digs, finishing just one behind team leader Amara Chambers, who recorded 20. Isa Boyd distributed 26 assists and added nine digs, while Kinamoni Jerome contributed 17 assists and five digs. Navy finished with 50 kills, 71 digs, eight service aces and seven blocks. Although Army held narrow statistical advantages in several categories, the Midshipmen executed when the match mattered most.
Historic Victory for Navy Volleyball
The victory carried additional significance because Navy had not won a Star Match at West Point since 2005. The Midshipmen had experienced several heartbreaking losses in the rivalry, including five-set defeats during four of their previous five Star Match visits to Army. Friday’s victory finally ended that drought and provided another memorable chapter in the Army-Navy rivalry. It also gave Navy an important conference victory as the Midshipmen continued their push through the Patriot League schedule.
Navy head coach Paco Labrador praised his team’s preparation, leadership and composure following the emotional victory. Labrador particularly recognized Alessio for entering the match late and delivering the decisive service ace under tremendous pressure. The coach also highlighted the contributions of Navy’s four seniors, who were on the court together when the Midshipmen secured the winning point. Their leadership helped Navy overcome adversity and produce one of the program’s most memorable recent rivalry victories.
What’s Next for Navy?
Navy returns home Sunday, October 11, to face Lehigh at 3 p.m. inside Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis. The Midshipmen will look to build on their momentum and strengthen their position in the Patriot League standings. Navy will then welcome Army to Annapolis on Saturday, October 17, for another rivalry matchup, giving the Midshipmen an opportunity to complete a regular-season sweep. The rematch comes just eight days after Friday’s contest, the shortest interval between Army-Navy volleyball meetings in series history.
MSB Take
Navy’s victory over Army represents much more than another conference win, especially considering the program’s lengthy struggles in Star Matches at West Point. The Midshipmen demonstrated tremendous mental toughness by responding to a lopsided opening set and overcoming a 24-21 deficit with their backs against the wall. Buffum’s clutch kills, Alessio’s perfectly timed service ace and the winning block from Buffum and Morgan illustrated a team capable of delivering under pressure. Those are the moments that can help transform a season and build confidence heading toward the Patriot League Tournament.
What makes this victory particularly impressive is that Navy did not dominate the statistical categories, yet still found a way to win the biggest points. Army finished with more kills, digs, assists and blocks, but Navy’s balanced attack and late execution ultimately decided the outcome. The Midshipmen now have an opportunity to turn this emotional rivalry victory into sustained momentum as conference play continues. If Navy can maintain that resilience and offensive balance, the Midshipmen could become a difficult opponent when postseason competition arrives.
Sources: Naval Academy Athletics game recap · Army West Point game recap · Official match box score
