WASHINGTON – Freshman Erin Swartz registered 10 kills and a .615 attack percentage, while junior Sarah Katz added 10 kills and 12 digs as the American University volleyball team defeated Lehigh, 25-14, 25-16, 25-11, on Friday evening.

The Eagles, on an 11-match winning streak, solidified their place at the top of the Patriot League standings with a 15-4 overall record and 6-0 mark in the conference. Meanwhile, second-place Lehigh fell to 12-9 overall and 6-2 in the league.

In the opening set, American used an 8-2 run to pull away from Lehigh, eventually increasing its advantage to double-digits. The Eagles hit a match-high .541 in the set, with Swartz, who recorded six kills on six attempts, leading the way.

AU also controlled the pace of the second set, leading by as many as nine points. Senior Kristyna Lindovska was the top hitter for the Eagles, recording four kills, while junior Allison Cappellino and Swartz each added three kills.

The Eagles finished off the match with a strong performance in the third set, outscoring the Mountain Hawks 13-4 down the stretch. Katz registered five kills and five digs in the set to lead AU, while senior Kelly McCaddin recorded three kills.

Swartz and Katz led a balanced offensive effort that saw AU finish with a season-high .426 hitting percentage. Cappellino recorded eight kills and a team-high three service aces, while Lindovska and McCaddin added seven and six kills, respectively, along with three blocks each.

Also turning in noteworthy performances for the Eagles were seniors Monika Smidova and Megan Rosburg. With 32 assists on Friday, Smidova moved into fifth place on AU's career assist list. Meanwhile, Rosburg finished the night with eight digs and now ranks tied for fifth all-time at American in career digs.

“It was certainly a good match all the way around,” said American head coach Barry Goldberg. “Every player had their game on. We knew this match would be for a big lead in the league, so we came out firing on all cylinders here today. Everyone was a contributor.”

The Eagles are back in action tomorrow afternoon when they host Colgate at 2:00.