The Eagles beat Fort Wayne, 33-31, 23-25, 25-14 and 25-21 in a mid-afternoon match at Hofstra. Traveling to its second match of the day, AU bested host Stony Brook 25-21, 20-25, 25-19 and 25-15.

 

American improved to 9-5 overall this season and has won three straight matches. The Eagles finish play in the tournament on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Hofstra.

 

The Eagles played the two matches with only eight available players due to a number of injuries.

 

"I am inspired by our team's perseverance, as we battled to win a tough match on the road against a team which has played many good opponents this season," said AU head coach Barry Goldberg. "We have started matches slow, and this is something that must improve.

 

"With our team being down to eight players available, two of whom are playing though pain, we found a way to make things work. A lot of respect is being earned between the players, as we continue to get to know each other better."

 

Kazala had 22 kills and hit .419 in the match against Fort Wayne. Shannon Webb added 12 kills and had her first double-double with a team-best 13 digs. Aleksandra Sochacka had 10 to reach double figures in kills for the first time this season and also had a double-double with 10 digs.

 

Kennedy Etheridge had 47 assists and 12 digs, while Loren McKenzie had five blocks.

 

The 33-31 win in the first set marked the Eagles' longest set of the season. AU battled back from deficits of 6-0, 9-4 and 14-9 before finally pulling even at 18-18. It was the first of 10 ties in the opening set, which finally ended on a service ace by Kristen Largay.

 

The Mastodons (4-7) led 8-4 in the second set and never trailed thereafter. AU pulled even at 19-19 and 23-23, but Fort Wayne rallied for the win.

 

AU led throughout the third set, gaining leads of 6-2, 13-7, 17-10 and 22-12 on the way to a 25-14 win.

 

Fort Wayne led early in the fourth before a five-point run gave AU a 17-14 lead. The Mastodon's pulled within two points six times down the stretch before a kill by Vela McBride ended the match.

 

Against Stony Brook (2-10), Kazala had 21 kills and Webb again had a double-double with 13 kills and a team-high dozen digs. Etheridge had 41 assists, while Sochacka and McBride had four blocks apiece.

 

Kazala had 21 kills and only one error in 37 attempts against the Seawolves, hitting .541 for the match.

 

The last of five ties came at 16-16 in the opening set of the nightcap. AU pulled ahead and held on as a kill by Kazala gave the Eagles the set on their first set point.

 

The hosts had control of the second set throughout, never trailing after gaining leads of 5-1, 11-4 and 15-8. The Eagles came within 18-17, but couldn't pull even down the stretch.

 

Webb served to open the third set for the Eagles, earning a 4-0 lead. The edge grew to 11-4, but Stony Brook pulled even at 14-14. From there, a kill by Kazala and a service ace by Etheridge gave AU a lead it would never relinquish, and Webb served the final four points of the set.

 

AU held leads of 10-2, 14-6 and 17-7 to dominate the fourth and deciding set.

 

Following the match at Hofstra on Saturday, the Eagles return home to open Patriot League action on Friday, Sept. 23 against Bucknell at 7 p.m. Tickets for all AU home volleyball matches are available at www.aueagles.com/tickets.