Sept. 16, 2006

Box Score

WASHINGTON - Three Eagles hit for double-digit kills and a combined hitting percentage over .300, but the American University women's volleyball team's 18 service errors proved too costly Saturday afternoon in a 3-1 loss to St. John's at the Big Red Invitational. With the loss AU falls to 6-6 on the year, while the Red Storm improves to 13-1.

St. John's won the first two games by scores of 30-27 and 30-23, respectively, then AU took the third 30-23 before falling 27-30 in the fourth. The Eagles' attack was effective in every game except the second as the team hit above .300 in those games and averaged .277 for the match. Middle blocker Chelsa Brooks (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) had 13 kills at a .500 percentage with eight individual blocks (one solo, seven assists) and outside hitter Elizabeth Maloney (Toronto, Ontario/Richview C.I.) had 13 kills at a .333 clip. Setter Christina Nash (Princeton, Fla./Coral Reef) had 44 assists, six kills and five block assists as well. American's front line outblocked the Red Storm 12 to seven for the match.

But it was American's service problems that became the match's biggest decider. The team's difficulties in keeping the ball in play potentially cost them the first game as they registered eight service errors and lost by just three points, 27-30.

The Eagles have one more match tonight, against Cornell at 7:30 p.m. in the Big Red Invite's finale.