Match Overview

The Navy volleyball team suffered a setback on Sunday when they faced Wake Forest in the final match of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational held at Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis. The Demon Deacons secured a decisive 3-0 victory over the Mids, with set scores of 25-17, 25-21, and 25-11.

Coaches’ Remarks

Navy’s head coach, Paco Labrador, noted the challenges posed by Wake Forest’s performance: “Wake Forest played a very clean match today. Their hitters were very tough for us to keep up with, which allowed them to sideout at a very high rate. We wanted to see high-level opponents this preseason, which we did, and we know it will pay dividends down the road.”

Set Breakdown

Set One

The first set began competitively, with Wake Forest leading 8-6 before pulling away with a 3-0 run to establish an 11-6 lead. The Demon Deacons maintained at least a four-point advantage throughout, closing the set with a hitting percentage of .265 compared to Navy’s .143.

Set Two

The second set showcased back-and-forth action with eight ties and four lead changes. Despite Navy holding a 15-13 lead at one point, Wake Forest surged ahead to claim the set 25-21.

Set Three

Looking to adapt, Coach Labrador utilized his bench extensively; however, the more stable lineup of Wake Forest allowed them to quickly build a significant lead, finishing the match strong.

Statistical Highlights

Overall, Wake Forest dominated the match, recording:

• 48 kills with a hitting percentage of .301
• 9 total blocks
• 48 digs
• 6 service aces

In contrast, Navy recorded 27 kills and a hitting percentage of just .124. Anuhea Hauanio-Lore emerged as Navy’s standout performer with eight kills and eight digs, while Ava Toppin contributed with five kills at a percentage of .400, earning her a spot on the all-tournament team.

Next Match: Facing Gardner-Webb

Navy looks to bounce back in their upcoming match against Gardner-Webb on September 12, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Upcoming Tournament Schedule

The Mids will host the Navy Invitational, featuring matches against Gardner-Webb on Friday followed by games against Le Moyne and Hampton on Saturday.

Tournament Results Recap

Recent tournament outcomes include:

• Wake Forest 3, George Mason 1
• Air Force 3, Navy 1
• Air Force 3, Wake Forest 0
• George Mason 3, Navy 2
• Wake Forest 3, Navy 0

All-Tournament Team

Recognition for top performers included:

• Air Force: Alysa Walker, Grace Fiaseu, Mia Lloyd
• George Mason: Meredith Brown, Kiera Hamilton
• Navy: Ava Toppin
• Wake Forest: Olivia Murphy, Emma Farrell