Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
17-7,11-4Patriot
Lafayette
4-19,2-11Patriot
Volleyball Survives Five-Set Thriller in Easton Against Lafayette
November 08, 2025 | Volleyball
EASTON, Pa. — Army West Point volleyball (17-7, 11-4) earned another win on Saturday night, defeating the Lafayette College Leopards (4-19, 2-11) in an action-packed five-set win, 3-2.
With the win, Army sweeps the season series with the Leopards, also earning a 3-0 win over Lafayette at West Point on September 27.
The Leopards took the first set, 25-23, with Army then taking the next two sets, 25-21 and 25-21, to take a 2-1 match lead. Lafayette won the fourth set, 25-22, then Army took the fifth set, 15-11.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Army came out strong in the opening set, showcasing a balanced attack behind Naomi Chinchar's steady setting and Chloe Murakami's offensive spark.
Mackenzie Lynch and Marin Harvey added early kills as the Black Knights matched Lafayette point-for-point through the first half. Army's defensive coverage, anchored by Corrine Blackburn, kept long rallies alive, while Victoria Kasanganay contributed with timely blocks at the net.
Midway through the frame, Lafayette's serving pressure forced a few uncharacteristic Army attack errors, giving the Leopards a slight edge.
Despite a late surge from Murakami, who connected on back-to-back kills to close the gap to 23–24, Lafayette managed to convert set point to take the opener, 25–23.
Army regrouped with purpose in the second set, tightening its serve-receive and improving efficiency on the attack.
Chinchar and Juliette Myrick orchestrated a diverse offense, finding Murakami on the outside and Harvey in the middle to establish rhythm early.
Lynch's consistency at the net proved vital, while Kasanganay delivered two critical kills during a 5–1 Army scoring run that broke open a tie at 15. Defensively, Lee's digs kept Lafayette's hitters contained, and Myrick added a service ace to extend the lead.
Army maintained its composure in the closing points, with Murakami sealing the set with a powerful cross-court kill to win 25–21 and even the match at one set apiece.
The third set was all Army from the start. The Black Knights stormed out to a 10–3 lead behind a serving run from Chinchar, who notched an ace and forced multiple out-of-system plays from Lafayette.
Murakami continued her dominant performance with a string of sharp-angle kills, while Harvey controlled the middle with two blocks and several quick attacks that kept the Leopards on their heels.
Lynch and Kasanganay added steady offense from the pins, and Blackburn anchored the defense with crisp passing that allowed Army's setters to stay in system. The Black Knights' energy and execution overwhelmed Lafayette, cruising to a convincing 25–16 win to take a 2–1 match lead.
Lafayette responded with resilience in the fourth, using strong serving to put Army under early pressure. The Black Knights trailed 11–6 before rallying behind Murakami and Lynch, who each delivered clutch kills to close the gap.
Myrick's aggressive serving helped Army pull within two points late in the set, while Harvey and Kasanganay provided defensive stops at the net.
However, Lafayette capitalized on a few late Army errors and converted a crucial side-out at 23–22 to regain momentum. Despite Murakami's continued scoring touch and Chinchar's precise setting, the Leopards edged out the set 25–22, forcing a decisive fifth frame.
With the match on the line, Army showcased composure and focus in the final set. Murakami once again set the tone offensively, delivering three kills in the first six points as Army jumped out to an early lead.
Harvey's presence in the middle paid dividends, adding a crucial block and kill to extend the gap to 10–7. Myrick and Chinchar distributed the ball effectively, keeping Lafayette guessing. Lynch's kill down the line brought Army to match point, and moments later,
Chinchar sealed the win with a well-placed service ace. Army closed out the set 15–11 and secured the hard-fought 3–2 road victory.
Black Knight Bullet Points
- Chloe Murakami led the Black Knights with an outstanding offensive performance, tallying 20 kills while hitting a strong .293 hitting percentage. She also added two service aces, one block, 13 digs, finishing with a match-high 22.5 points.
- Mackenzie Lynch provided consistent production with 12 kills and 7 blocks, hitting .170 on 47 swings. She added two service aces, three assists and 14 digs, totaling 17.5 points.
- Juliette Myrick was instrumental in both setting and scoring, recording 27 assists and 10 kills with a .258 hitting percentage. She also contributed two aces, two block assists and 20 digs, totaling 13.0 points.
- Naomi Chinchar contributed 20 assists and one kill, while adding three service aces and 17 digs.
- Marin Harvey added a strong presence on the right side with eight kills with a .182 hitting percentage, along with four digs. Her efficiency and smart attacking helped her total 8.0 points.
- Victoria Kasanganay was highly efficient at the net, producing six kills, along with one solo block and four block assists. Her defensive impact and steady play contributed 9.0 points.
- Corrine Blackburn made the most of her three sets of action, recording four kills on six attempts (.500) and adding four blocks for a total of 6.0 points.
- Breelyn Bender chipped in three kills and added one solo and two block assists, finishing with 5.0 points in four sets played.
- Norah Shattan appeared in four sets, adding one service ace and four digs.
- Annette Lee was active defensively with 19 digs, adding six assists.
- Ashli Alcala-Romero contributed four digs over four sets, adding depth in the back row.
Coach's Corner
"Lafayette played great ball today," head coach Alma Kovaci Lee said. "They scouted us well and put pressure on all parts of the game. It is good for us to face great defensive teams. I'm proud of us remaining calm and getting this important win on the road. We learned a lot about ourselves this weekend. We will take a day off and get back to creating the best version of ourselves."
Up Next
The Black Knights close out the regular season next Saturday, November 15, at 4 p.m. ET on the road in Lewisburg, Pa., matching up against the Bucknell University Bison.
Army won the first matchup featuring the two squads on October 10, sweeping the Bison inside Gillis Field House.
For fans who cannot attend the match in Pennsylvania, the match 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.
