The Eagles, who had a 14-match winning streak snapped last Saturday at Lehigh, recovered to end the regular season with a 25-7 record and a 15-1 mark in league matches.

 

It marks the 14th time in the 16 seasons the Eagles have been in the Patriot League that they finished the year with one league loss or less.

 

AU, which had already clinched the regular-season championship and home-court advantage for the Patriot League Tournament, will host that event at Bender Arena on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20.

 

Loyola Maryland fell to 6-20 overall and 3-12 in the league.

 

Kazala added seven digs, three blocks and a pair of service aces to her offensive line. She had five kills, the aces and the blocks in just the first set alone.

 

Sophomore Kennedy Etheridge had a career-high seven service aces, as the Eagles finished with a dozen as a team. Etheridge also had 27 assists. Freshman libero Kristen Largay led AU with 13 digs, with Loren McKenzie having four blocks.

 

Julita Kurdziuk, the lone AU senior player honored in pregame ceremonies, finished with six kills and four digs.

 

Jane Lukas led the Greyhounds offensively with 11 kills, with Molly Jarvis finishing with six blocks.

 

AU trailed 12-11 in the first set when a 7-1 run gave the Eagles a working margin. The Greyhounds pulled within 18-15, but could get no closer.

 

Loyola led 12-10 in the second set before the Eagles got going. AU pulled ahead 17-14 and went on to close the set on a block by Kurdziuk and McKenzie.

 

The Eagles had six aces in the final set, in which they held leads of 9-2 and 18-10. Loyola held off six set points, but Kazala ended the match with her final kill.

 

Pairings for next weekend's Patriot League Tournament will be announced early next week. Tickets for the tournament will be $8 for adults and $5 for children for each day and are available at www.aueagles.com/tickets. Students of participating schools are free with a valid student ID.