Nov. 6, 2003

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With just three Patriot League matches remaining in the season, the Navy volleyball team will take to the road this weekend for its final-two league road matches of the year. The Midshipmen will play Friday at Bucknell and will close the road season Saturday at Colgate. Navy's final league match of the year will be Friday, Nov. 14, when the Mids play host to American in Macdonough Hall.

The Mids have posted wins in three of their last-four league matches, including victories in each of their last-two road contests. Navy enters the penultimate weekend of the league season in fifth place in the Patriot League standings with a 5-6 record, one victory behind third-place Army and Lehigh. Army plays host to Lafayette and Lehigh this weekend, then closes the league season Nov. 15 at Holy Cross, while Lehigh plays Friday at Holy Cross, Saturday at Army and Nov. 14 at Lafayette.

Only the top-four teams at the end of the regular season advance to the league playoffs.

"All we can worry about is what we can control and that is our match and our side of the net," said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "Figuring out different scenarios to make the playoffs won't matter unless we win our matches.

"This weekend is a very challenging one for us, but I feel we are ready to meet that challenge head on."

Navy continues to be among the national leaders in service aces, ranking 10th in the latest NCAA statistics with 2.29 aces per game. Individually, sophomore setter/outside hitter Ashley Musser (Industry, Pa.) is tied for 10th nationally with 0.67 aces per game.

One of the more consistent players of late in the Patriot League is Navy's Ashley Van Hartesvelt (Breckenridge, Colo.). The junior rightside hitter has recorded double-doubles in four-straight league matches, as well as in seven of the last-eight and in eight of the 11 league contests this season. She is hitting .291 and averaging 5.2 kills and 3.4 digs per game over the last-four matches and now ranks second in the league with 4.2 kills per game during league matches.

Other Mids ranking among the league's statistical leaders in conference matches are freshman middle blocker Beth McArthur (Roseville, Minn.), seventh with a .257 hitting percentage, eighth with 0.46 aces per game, and ninth with 0.83 blocks per game; Musser, first in service aces at 0.68 and eighth in assists with 5.9 per game; and freshman setter Mariellen Carnes (Virginia Beach, Va.) who is ninth with 5.65 assists per game.

As a team during the conference season, Navy ranks second in aces (2.32), fourth in hitting percentage (.170), hitting percentage allowed (.171) and blocks (2.07), and sixth in assists (11.51), kills (13.27) and digs (16.63).

Bucknell, 10-1 and in second place in the league, held off the Midshipmen the first time the teams met, Oct. 11 in Annapolis. The Bison won the two-hour, 30-minute match, 27-30, 30-21, 33-31, 27-30, 17-15. The match was statistically played to a near standstill. Bucknell totaled 134 points, hit .133 and had nine aces, 91 digs and 15 blocks, while Navy scored 127 points, hit .131 and totaled eight aces, 93 digs and 14 blocks. Individually, Van Hartesvelt knocked down 20 kills and hauled in 21 digs, while junior outside hitter Katey Geary (San Jose, Calif.) recorded her first career double-double with 19 kills and 10 digs. Bucknell was led by 23 kills and 24 digs from senior outside hitter Brandi Trapasso.

Navy defeated Colgate, 3-8 on the season, in the first match of the year, 30-25, 30-23, 26-30, 30-19, Oct. 10 in Macdonough Hall. Van Hartesvelt was again the focal point for the Navy attack, recording 25 kills, 21 digs and hitting .465 on the night. Colgate sophomore middle hitter Caity Whiteaker led the Raiders with 11 kills, one ahead of senior middle hitter Claire Putzeys. Navy as a team outhit Colgate, .230-.111, and finished with 17 service aces to Colgate's six.