Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
12-5,6-2Patriot
Loyola Maryland
4-13,2-6Patriot
Volleyball Closes Alumni Weekend with Four-Set Win Against Greyhounds
October 11, 2025 | Volleyball
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point volleyball (12-5, 6-2) capped off Alumni Weekend on a high note, taking a four-set victory over the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds (4-13, 2-6), 3-1.
With the win, Army improves to an 18-8 series record over the Greyhounds and finishes the weekend with a 2-0 record. They currently sit in third in the Patriot League standings.
Army won the first set 25-17 before Loyola Maryland tied the match at 1-1 with a 25-21 set two win.
The Black Knights came back and dominated in set three, taking a dominant 25-14 win. Then, in an action-packed set four, Army earned a 25-22 win to claim the match.
Match Recap
Army West Point came out strong in the set, taking early control with a service ace from Naomi Chinchar to start the scoring. An attack error by Loyola extended Army's lead to 2–0, and Chloe Murakami and Corrine Blackburn each added early kills to keep the Black Knights ahead.
Midway through the set, Mackenzie Lynch and Michelle Parker found their groove on the outside, with Parker converting several kills off Chinchar's precise assists. Marin Harvey also joined in with a strong attack that pushed the lead to 11–10.
Loyola tried to close the gap with a couple of kills, but Army responded with back-to-back points from Lynch and Murakami, and a key block sequence from Lynch and Parker to regain momentum.
As the set progressed, Army's balance on offense became evident. A run of four straight points, highlighted by a service ace from Lynch and another Murakami finish, extended Army's cushion to 21–15.
From there, the Black Knights closed with authority. Lynch delivered clutch kills to set up match point, and Chloe Murakami sealed the set with back-to-back kills from Chinchar and Mackenzie Lynch to finish off a dominant 25–17 win for Army.
In the second set, Army West Point faced a tough start, falling behind early as Loyola capitalized on attack errors.
Despite the early deficit, Army started to claw back through a combination of smart serving and aggressive hitting. Mackenzie Lynch sparked momentum with a service ace, followed by a series of kills from Lynch herself, Corrine Blackburn, and Chloe Murakami, keeping Army within striking distance.
Throughout the middle of the set, Army's offense found balance with Naomi Chinchar consistently setting up hitters like Marin Harvey and Breelyn Bender, who each contributed key kills. Loyola's errors helped the Cadets chip away at the lead, but Loyola continued to respond with timely kills of their own, keeping the set close.
Despite a determined comeback and strong offensive sequences led by Chinchar and Lynch, Loyola ultimately held on, finishing the set 25–21.
In the third set, early kills by Corrine Blackburn and Chloe Murakami, paired with strong contributions from Breelyn Bender, kept Army within striking distance.
Army's big run began midway through the set, sparked by Mackenzie Lynch, who delivered a service ace and several critical kills. Chinchar continued to distribute effectively, feeding Murakami, Bender, and Blackburn, allowing Army to string together points and reduce the deficit.
This surge created a decisive swing: Army erased Loyola's lead, moving from a 5–8 deficit to take the lead 12–8. The Black Knights maintained the momentum, executing smart attacks and capitalizing on Loyola errors. Lynch, Bender, Murakami, and Blackburn all contributed to the run, demonstrating Army's depth and balance across the court.
As the set neared its conclusion, Army held firm under pressure. Chinchar herself finished with a service ace that brought Army to a 25–14 victory. The Black Knights' big mid-set run proved crucial, turning a close, back-and-forth contest into a decisive win and giving Army momentum heading into the next set.
In the fourth set, Army West Point and Loyola traded points early as both teams battled for control. Naomi Chinchar set the pace with crisp ball distribution, finding Chloe Murakami, Mackenzie Lynch, and Corrine Blackburn for early kills that kept the Black Knights even.
Loyola matched the intensity with strong serves and quick transitions, but Army's defense, anchored by solid passing and blocking, kept rallies alive.
Midway through the set, Army began to pull away behind Murakami's sharp hitting and Breelyn Bender's energy at the net. Lynch and Blackburn made timely blocks to slow Loyola's attack. Army showed strong composure in long rallies, with Chinchar's smart setting creating balanced offensive looks across the court.
Loyola pushed back late, cutting the deficit to just a couple of points, but Army responded with poise. Bender and Murakami each delivered clutch kills in the closing moments, and a well-placed set from Chinchar allowed Murakami to finish the set 25–22. The win secured the match for Army, highlighting the team's resilience, depth, and ability to execute under pressure.
Black Knight Bullet Points
- Army West Point won the match 3–1, taking sets 25–17, 21–25, 25–14, and 25–22.
- The Cadets hit .168 as a team, totaling 53 kills, and also added 52 assists, scored five service aces, posted nine total blocks, along with 78 digs.
- Army's offense was strongest in the first and third sets, where they hit .343 and .333, respectively.
- Chloe Murakami led Army's attack with 14 kills, hitting .149, while also contributing two blocks and six digs for 15 total points.
- Mackenzie Lynch added 13 kills, three service aces, and 19 digs, earning 17 total points.
- Breelyn Bender was highly efficient off the bench, recording nine kills on 17 swings for a team-best .471 hitting percentage, along with two blocks for 10.5 points.
- Corrine Blackburn provided a strong two-way performance with eight kills, a .438 hitting percentage, and five total blocks (one solo, four assists) for 11 points.
- Naomi Chinchar was outstanding as the primary setter, dishing out a new career-high 46 assists while also adding 10 digs, one kill and one service ace.
- Marin Harvey tallied four kills and 3 total blocks, adding to Army's front-line defense.
- Nicole Stroud anchored the back row with a match-high 31 digs, providing consistent serve receive and defensive coverage.
- Hannah Hankerson and Nathalie Tulumaris each chipped in a service ace to round out the scoring.
Coach's Corner
"It was a great weekend," head coach Alma Kovaci Lee said. "We had a great week of practice and were very confident in our ability to compete and win, and winning does matter, especially in the academy. I do want to say that the crowd had so much energy, and it was a Family Weekend and Alumni Weekend, which made it great. Our team to compete for each other like that and for the fans and families."
"Chloe and Mackenzie are doing it all," Kovaci Lee continued. "They're passing, they're playing defense, they're blocking, they're attacking when it's all the time, but also when it really matters. I'm really proud of our seniors. They have worked really hard for four years to be where they are."
"I can't say enough about Naomi. She's a competitor, she's smart. Her energy, her attitude, she's so coachable. It's been a blessing to see her actually run this team. Even in the last points of the game, when it's tied, she stays composed. That's a true competitor right there."
Up Next
The Black Knights return the favor next week, heading to Baltimore, Maryland, to play Loyola Maryland for the second consecutive game.
Army will head to Reitz Arena on Saturday, Oct. 18, to close the season series against the Greyhounds at 4 p.m. ET.
For fans who cannot attend the match in Baltimore, it will stream live on ESPN+.
Follow Along
For complete coverage of Army West Point women's volleyball, follow the Black Knights on X and Instagram at @ArmyWP_VB and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.
