The American University volleyball team took a two-set lead to open Friday night's match against Army, but fell to the Black Knights, 3-2, in its first Patriot League contest of the season. Morgan Hendrix tied the single match record for block assists with 11.

Hendrix led the team with 12 total blocks as they posted 20 in the match to tie the single game record at American, last set during the 1993 season. Sara Rishell led the Eagles with 10 kills while Hendrix hit a team-best .381 with nine kills and one error. Allison Cappellino had 23 digs for the American defense while Kylann Scheidt had 35 assists.

American (7-6, 0-1) jumped out to an early lead before the Black Knights were able to tie it at three different points in the match. The Eagles posted five straight tallies to take a 18-13 lead, forcing Army to take the timeout. The Black Knights cut it to a three point match before American was able to close out the set with seven straight points for the 25-15 victory.

The Eagles dominated the second set, taking a 13-5 lead before Army called a timeout to end American's run. The Black Knights were able to cut the lead to 18-10 with the kill from Margaux Jarka. An attack error from Molly McDonald gave American back the point and the Eagles were able to roll to a 25-16 win in set two.

The third set was tied seven times with four lead changes before Army (9-5, 1-0) scored six straight points for a 17-9 advantage. The Eagles were able to cut the lead to two, 23-21, after a kill from Juliana Crum before the Black Knights put it away with back-to-back tallies, 25-21.

Neither team was able to break away in the fourth set, which also featured seven ties and three lead changes. American held a 23-22 advantage but the Black Knights registered three points to take the set, 25-23, with two kills from Ariana Mankus and an ace from Jarka.

The Eagles held a 2-1 lead to open the final set, but Army outscored American by a 5-1 margin to take the lead. American came within four, 10-6, with the block from Hendrix and Kristyna Lindovska but the Black Knights were able to hold off the Eagles' rally for the 15-7 set victory to take the match.

Army was led by Mankus and Jarka, who each had double-doubles for the Black Knights. Mankus tallied a team-high 20 kills with 20 digs while Jarka had 15 kills with 22 digs. Mary Vaccaro had 47 assists to pace the offense.

American returns to Bender Arena tomorrow, Saturday, September 22 at 2 p.m. when it continues Patriot League play against Holy Cross. The match will be broadcast live on Eagles Vision TV.