The American University volleyball team opened Patriot League play on Friday with an impressive 3-0 victory at Lafayette. The Eagles earned the win by set scores of 25-18, 25-15, 25-21 and held the Leopards to a .062 hitting percentage for the match. American has now won four consecutive matches.

American (6-7, 1-0) fell behind early in set one, 6-2, but consecutive service aces by Angelina Waterman helped the team to tie the score at nine. The Eagles methodically pulled away midway through the frame and took a 21-18 advantage on an Ann Recht block. After a Lafayette (7-4, 0-1) timeout, American scored four consecutive points to take the set, 25-18, on a Recht and Cassandra Ricketts block.

The Eagles came out quickly in the second set and took a 10-6 lead following a Magdalena Tekiel kill and solo block. A 4-0 run shortly after pushed American's advantage to 20-11 en route to a Rebecca Heath kill for set point, 25-15. Lafayette was limited to a .000 hitting percentage in the frame as American allowed just eight kills while forcing eight errors.

Katerina Cinkova held serve for six consecutive points, including two aces, to begin the third set as the Eagles jumped out to a 6-1 lead. Lafayette brought the score back to within four, 14-10, but would have its comeback attempt cut short as American rattled off four consecutive scores to regain an 18-10 lead. American improved its advantage to 23-13 and held off a late surge by the Leopards to take match point, 25-21.

Tekiel and Ricketts each scored seven kills to lead American's offensive attack while A. Recht and Claire Recht each notched five. Cynammon Burns and Waterman tallied 13 digs and 12 digs, respectively, and Krysta Cicala dished out 28 assists.

The Eagles will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at Lehigh for the final game of their current road trip. Match time is set for 4 p.m.