The American University volleyball team advanced to the 2012 Patriot League Championship with a 3-1 victory over Army in the Semifinals on Saturday night. The Eagles will look to bring home their 11th conference title in 12 seasons when they take on tournament host Colgate on Sunday, November 18 at 3 p.m.

American (21-9) opened the match on a 9-3 run for an 11-5 advantage on the ace from Kelly McCaddin. The Eagles continued to build their lead, tallying three consecutive points for the 17-9 lead and forcing the Black Knights to call their second timeout of the set. Army used back-to-back scores for the 24-18 advantage but American earned set point on a kill from McCaddin to take the 1-0 match lead.

The second set featured 19 ties and seven lead changes as Army (20-9) came back to tie the match at one with a 26-24 victory. The Black Knights held off an American comeback down the stretch and were able to knot the match on consecutive kills from Margaux Jarka.

Army took a 4-1 lead at the start of the third set before three straight points by the Eagles tied it at seven. After back-to-back points from the Black Knights, the Eagles took their first lead of the set on three consecutive tallies for the 10-9 advantage. Army built back its lead, using a 4-1 run for the 13-11 lead. American battled back and tallied five straight points for the 22-16 advantage. Army added one more point but the Eagles closed out the set with three consecutive scores for the 2-1 lead.

The Black Knights took another quick lead in the fourth set but American was able to come back and chip away at its deficit, posting a 4-0 run for the 7-6 lead. The two teams continued to go back and forth but the Eagles tallied four straight points capped off by a kill from Sara Rishell for a 19-12 advantage. Army cut it to 22-16 but American was able to advance to the Championships with three consecutive tallies for the 25-16 win.

Rishell led the Eagles with 16 kills, hitting .294, while Juliana Crum and Kylann Scheidt each registered double-doubles. Crum hit .300 with 14 kills and 10 digs while Scheidt paced the offense with 39 assists, notching 12 digs. McCaddin hit a team-best .333 on 11 kills and three errors while Morgan Hendrix tallied 11 blocks. Allison Cappellino led the defensive effort with 15 digs. American outhit Army .222 to .086 for the match.

Ariana Mankus led the Black Knights with 18 kills while D.J. Phee and Jarka posted 20 and 18 digs, respectively, to lead the defense.

American will take on Colgate at 3 p.m. in the Patriot League Championship. The two teams split the regular season series. The Raiders won 3-0 in Hamilton, N.Y. with the Eagles picking up the 3-1 victory in Bender Arena.

The championship will be broadcast live via Patriot League All*Access. Fans can purchase a month-long subscription for $7.95 to watch each game, as well as all other fall Patriot League Championships. For more information on Patriot League All*Access, click here.