Volleyball Downed by Eagles, Falls in Four in Road Match

Saturday, October 12

Washington, D.C.

6:00 PM

Army West Point

8-9,4-4Patriot

American

16-4,6-2Patriot

Army West Point

American

Volleyball Downed by Eagles, Falls in Four in Road Match

October 12, 2024 | Volleyball

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Army Volleyball took on their second Patriot League opponent of the weekend on Saturday as they traveled to the nation's capital to play American at Bender Arena. The Black Knights matched the Eagles step-for-step but a set of late runs for the Eagles saw the home team claim the four set victory.

Junior outside hitter Mackenzie Lynch and senior rightside hitter Kingsley Wallace led the Black Knights with 12 kills each. Lynch set a new career best for kills in a season with her seventh of the night, passing her previous best of 158 from 2023 and moving up to 164 by the end of the night.

Freshman libero Nicole Stroud led the match in digs with a career-best 27 total digs to help Army out-dig American 87-81. She was followed closely by Lynch with a career-best 26 digs.

Match Recap
The Black Knights kept pace with American from the first whistle, finding four ties from 0-0 up to the ten-point threshold where Army claimed the 10-8 edge with a kill from Kingsley Wallace.

American took the lead back with a 9-1 lead cut short on an Eagles service error. The Black Knights began to cut away at American's lead with blocks from Tatum Grimes, Chloe Murakami, and Juliette Myrick as well as kills from Grimes and Mackenzie Lynch.

Army earned the first set point opportunity of the night on a kill from Wallace, but the Eagles equalized with a block and capitalized on the momentum shift to claim the first frame 26-24.

Despite American earning the first point in the second frame, Army's squad found their groove first and opened up a 7-2 lead over the Eagles.

American looked to close the gap as the second frame wore on, but Army held the edge up to 14-13 before the Eagles could push into the lead.

The Black Knights remained within four points of American and fought off two set point opportunities for the Eagles and earned a set point chance of their own on a kill from freshman outsider hitter Kealakai Bandy out of the back row at 25-24.

The two teams traded kills back and forth until American strung together three in a row to claim the second set 30-28.

Army's squad once more got off to a hot start in the third frame, beginning with a kill from Bandy and opening a 6-3 lead on a solo block from Juliette Myrick.

The Eagles edged their way back into the lead, but Army came surging back at 17-15 with a pair of back-to-back kills from Lynch and Grimes.

The Black Knights held off late pushes from American at 23-23, 24-24, and 25-25 to claim the third set 27-25 on a kill from Wallace and an attacking error from the Eagles.

Army felt the heat coming into the fourth frame as freshman middle blocker Michelle Parker combined with Wallace for a block to open the set before the duo combined for three kills to give the Black Knights a 4-0 lead.

Looking to hold onto their edge, Lynch and Myrick buried kills for Army but the Eagles crept into the lead with a string of kills.

The Black Knights fought to make their way back into the lead but a brief serving run for American curbed Army's momentum and put their foot on the gas, pushing aead on a 23-15 differential before the the Black Knights found their stride once more.

An Eagle service error and kill from Juliette Myrick looked to set the Black Knights on the way to challenge American's lead when the Eagles clinched the match with a kill and their 25-18 fourth set win.

Black Knight Bullet Points

Makenzie Lynch and Kingsley Wallace led Army's offense throughout the match with 12 kills apiece.
Freshman outside hitter Kealakai Bandy delivered a clutch performance for the Black Knights, tallying 11 kills in 25 swings for a .200 hitting percentage – her second highest hitting percentage in a match with at least three sets played (9/27 vs. Navy - .571).
Tatum Grimes led Army's block with a pair of solo blocks and six block assists for 5.0 total blocks in the contest.
Sophomore setter Juliette Myrick dished out a slate of assists for the Black Knights – logging 36 over four sets of action.
The Black Knights out-dug the Eagles 87-81, led by Nicole Stroud with 27 and Mackenzie Lynch with 26.

Coach's Corner
"This was a tough match to lose because the sets were all really close," said head coach Alma Kovaci Lee. "Our youth and inexperience showed up at the worst times. American is a complete team and their setter runs a good offense. We look forward to having this week to practice and the opportunity to play them again next weekend."

Up Next
The Black Knights will have a chance at revenge next Saturday, Oct. 19^th when they welcome American to Gillis Field House in West Point, N.Y. for a match up beginning at 6:00pm ET.

Follow Along
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.