Sept. 21, 2006

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. - Led by a strong frontline attack, the American University women's volleyball team overcame an early deficit to defeat Lafayette on the road Thursday night, 3-1, and push its record to 9-6 on the year and 2-0 in the Patriot League. Rubena Sukaj (Tirana, Albania/Asim Vokshi), Elizabeth Maloney (Toronto, Ontario/Richview C.I.) and Ann Recht (Canby, Ore./La Salle) each chipped in strong performances to help AU to a 15-30, 30-16, 30-14 and 30-23 come from behind win.

"Lafayette played great defense in game one and did everything right," head coach Barry Goldberg said. "Then we came back and we settled down. We served a little tougher in the second and third games."

The home Leopards outhit a struggling Eagles attack en route to the 30-15 win in game one. However, American quickly settled and found its offensive rhythm in the final three games to its fifth win in six matches. Sukaj clobbered 20 kills at over .400 percent, Maloney had 11 at a .370 clip and Recht tied her career high of nine kills at .350 to push the team's hitting to .313 for the match, despite hitting just over .100 in the first game. Setter Christina Nash (Princeton, Fla./Coral Reef) passed for 52 assists as the team amassed 62 kills in the match.

Maloney, the team's lone senior and captain, summarized the team's performance after the match. "We started slow, we were inconsistent and we hesitated a lot," she said. "[As the match went on] we felt more comfortable and we started playing well."

Goldberg chalked up the team's sluggish start to pre-game jitters. "Half the kids on the team have never played and yet know the history of our success in the league," he said. "It's a lot pressure for them. Usually in these matches it takes us some time to get going, our leaders step us and we get through it. We're looking forward to next week against Holy Cross and Army at home."

After playing six matches in nine days, the women's volleyball team gets some much needed rest as they have over a week off before hosting Holy Cross next Friday at 7 p.m.