The American University volleyball team returns to action this weekend at the Cornell Invitational in Ithaca, N.Y. The Eagles will face Niagara on Friday, Sep. 2 at 5:00 p.m. before taking on UTEP and host Cornell on Saturday, September 3 at 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively.

American carries a 1-2 record into play this weekend after falling to No. 16 Oregon on Wednesday in Bender Arena, 3-0. Sara Rishell scored a team-high 11 kills while Juliana Crum finished the night with 10 kills, eight digs and a .350 hitting percentage. Monika Smidova recorded seven kills, 15 assists, seven digs and hit .500 as Alexandra Hammer notched 14 assists and five digs. Rebecca Heath led the defensive efforts with 11 digs.

Rishell has averaged a team-best 3.55 kps through the Eagles' first three matches with 1.27 dps and 0.82 bps. Crum, meanwhile, has notched 3.36 kps, 3.00 dps and a .321 hitting percentage while Morgan Hendrix has chipped in 3.09 kps and is hitting .325. Smidova and Hammer have shared the setting duties, dishing out 5.27 aps and 4.64 aps, respectively.

Niagara is off to a 1-2 start, defeating Wright State and losing to Toledo and Oakland at the Blue-Gold Invitational last weekend. Boasting the trio of setter Michelle James, outside hitter Hannah Hedrick and middle blocker Amanda Wilken, all named to the 2010 All-MAAC First Team, Niagara was named the conference's team to beat in 2011 and is the two-time defending MAAC Champions.

UTEP has opened the season 4-0, defeating Southern, Portland State, Nicholls State and UT-Arlington to win the El Paso Sports Commission Invitational last weekend. The Miners welcome back nine letterwinners including Stephanie Figueroa, a two-time Conference USA Player of the week and Jeanne Horton, a C-USA All-Freshman selection from a 2010 team that went 12-21.

Cornell will be opening the 2011 season by hosting The Cornell Invitational. The Big Red are coming off a 4-20 season in 2010 and return 15 student-athletes for 2011.  

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