Navy volleyball: Midshipmen fall to Michigan in NCAA tournament

Navy’s volleyball team made history this season by winning the Patriot League and securing a berth in the NCAA tournament for the first time ever.

The Midshipmen advanced to Pittsburgh for the first rounds of the tournament, where a tough Michigan team awaited them.

Navy’s historic season came to a close Friday evening as they lost in three sets to Michigan (25-23, 25-20, 25-10). Michigan will now face the winner of Iona and Pitt.

Paco Labrador’s side kept things close in the first set with Michigan and faced just a 22-21 deficit late after a kill from Maddi Sgattoni, but the Wolverines rallied back to take the victory.

Sgattoni, a sophomore outside hitter from Pittsburgh, finished with two kills, an ace, an assist and three digs in her hometown Friday. In her final game for Navy, senior Sydney Shearn tallied 22 digs and three assists. Fellow senior Kelsey Kingsland led the Mids with eight kills.

Navy will lose six seniors to graduation, but after a 23-win season and conference championship in Labrador’s first year on the job, the future seems bright for Midshipmen volleyball.