Nov. 30, 2007

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. - The American University volleyball team's season came to an end Friday night, losing to No. 22 Duke in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament First-Round, 3-2.

"I thought Duke played very well," Head Coach Barry Goldberg said. "They played very good offensively and hit an incredible number. We picked it up a little and fought to get back into it and force a game five. I am proud of my team and what they were able to do tonight."

Game scores of the match were 20-30, 25-30, 30-28, 31-29, 7-15. The Eagles (26-8) were out-hit by Duke (25-6), .365 to .173, and committed 11 more errors (30-19) than the Blue Devils. American was led by Rubena Sukaj's 11th double-double of the year as she scored 22 kills, dug a team-high 13 balls and served two aces. Christina Nash also notched a double-double, her fifth this season, dishing out 40 assists, digging 11 balls and connecting for eight kills. In her NCAA Tournament debut, freshman Cassandra Ricketts recorded 10 kills on 17 attempts with only one error for a team-high .529 hitting percentage. Ivana Cebakova and Cynammon Burns each tallied 12 digs.

Game one began as a back and forth battle with seven ties in the first 20 points. Duke earned its first lead of the game, 11-10, and scored 10 of the next 12 points to take a 20-12 lead and firm control of the momentum. The Blue Devils hit .316 as a team in game one with five blocks while AU hit just .056 with 2 blocks.

American hung tough with the higher seed in game two and trailed by just one point near the end of the game, 23-22, serving for a chance to tie. The Eagles were unable to capitalize on their opportunity though as Duke earned the point to begin a 5-1 run and take the game. AU slightly improved its offensive attack in game two but was unable to limit the Blue Devils' attack as they out-hit American, .471 to .132.

The Eagles enjoyed a lead for much of game three and led by as many as five at the midway point, 14-9. Duke used a 7-3 run to climb back into contention and the two traded points until the eighth and final tie (23-23) was broken by a Sukaj kill. AU scored three service aces in game three, 17 kills including seven by Sukaj, and hit .268 while Duke scored zero aces, 17 kills and hit .382.

After trailing Duke by as many as four points, American chipped away at the Blue Devils' lead and tied the game at 21. After going blow for blow with Duke, American again trailed, 28-26, but forced a win by two situation when Sukaj scored a kill to knot the game at 29. Game-point came just two plays later as Claire Recht found a soft spot in the middle of the Duke defense for a kill. The Eagles hit a match-high .300 in game four and scored 20 kills while Duke hit .327 and scored 22 kills.

Game five was all Duke, with the Blue Devils jumping out to a 7-1 lead. Down 13-4, the Eagles attempted a comeback with a 4-0 run but their efforts fell short. As a team the Dukies hit .350 in the deciding game while AU hit -.050.

Duke was led by Carrie DeMange and Rachael Moss who scored 22 and 20 kills respectively. Ali Hausfield had a match-high 76 assists.

Duke will face No. 7 Cal tomorrow, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. The winner of that match will move to the NCAA Tournament's round of 16 in Madison, Wis.