Nov. 7, 2008

Box Score

WASHINGTON - The American University volleyball team defeated Lehigh Friday night, 3-0, to remain unbeaten in Patriot League play and extend its conference winning streak to 18 matches. Ivana Cebakova set a new AU single-match record with 12 aces in the win as the Eagles combined for a season-high 19.

"We had a great match serving tonight, especially Ivana Cebakova," Head Coach Barry Goldberg. "We didn't have many opportunities offensively because our serve was so good but I think overall we played a good match. Defensively, our block was strong and we limited what Lehigh was able to do. This was a good win for us and we look forward to playing again tomorrow."

American (19-7, 11-0) dispatched the Mountain Hawks by set scores of 25-17, 25-12, 25-18. In the first set, AU quickly took a 4-0 lead and extended their advantage to seven points, 10-3, on consecutive aces from Cassandra Ricketts. The Eagles lead would reach as many as 10 points, 16-6, on a Claire Recht kill before taking set point on another Recht kill, 25-17.

It was all AU again in the second set as the Eagles took a 6-0 lead. Ricketts and Recht teamed up for a block to make the score 4-0 and Recht recorded a solo block on the very next play to move the score to 5-0. Four-consecutive errors by Lehigh moved AU's advantage to eight points, 10-2. Leading by nine, 21-12, Cebakova fired off four straight aces to give AU set point, 25-12. Cebakova tallied six aces in the frame.

AU trailed for the majority of the third set, falling behind 4-1 early and trailing by as many as four points midway through the stanza, 15-11. Two Lehigh errors moved the score to 15-13 in favor of the Mountain Hawks before Cebakova tied the set at 15 with back-to-back aces forcing a Lehigh timeout. Cebakova continued her hot serving with three-consecutive aces following the stoppage and after a Lehigh error she recorded her sixth ace of the frame to give the Eagles a 20-15 advantage. American would take a seven point lead, 24-18, on a Christina Nash kill and would score match point on a Rubena Sukaj ace, 25-18.

American recorded a season-high 19 aces in the match led by a new single-match record 12 aces from Cebakova. The junior also notched five digs. Sukaj tallied a match-high nine kills for the Eagles while Ricketts added six. AU also combined for 11 blocks led by six total from Recht, including three solo, and four total from Sukaj and Ann Recht.

AU improved to 11-0 in the PL this season and is 18-0 against conference opponents since Oct. 20 of 2007.

American will be back in action tomorrow, Nov. 8, at Lafayette at 2 p.m. The Eagles will look to remain unbeaten in conference play as they seek their eighth-consecutive PL Regular Season Championship.