The Eagles, now 6-2 overall after winning four straight matches, face No. 22 Michigan on Friday in the tournament opener at 4:30 p.m. American will then play the host Panthers on Saturday at noon before finishing the event against Coastal Carolina at 4:30 p.m.

The match with Pittsburgh will be available on the ACC Digital Network.

 

The competition is tough this weekend, as the four teams have combined for a 22-4 record so far this season.

 

Last weekend, AU won The Shore's Courtyard Classic, sweeping three-set matches with host UMES, Rider and Norfolk State. Sophomore outside Aleksandra Kazala and sophomore setter Kennedy Etheridge were selected to the all-tournament team.

 

Kazala still leads the AU offense, averaging 4.0 kills per set this season. Freshman Shannon Webb averages 2.40 kps. Etheridge has improved her assist average to 8.94 per set, and junior Loren McKenzie has a team-high 28 blocks.

 

The trip to Pitt this weekend is a homecoming for AU head coach Barry Goldberg, who graduated from Pittsburgh in 1984.

 

The Wolverines are 6-0 this season and entered the coaches poll for the first time this season. Michigan is one of eight Big Ten teams in the poll this week.

 

Senior Abby Cole was the MVP of both the Michigan Invitational and the K-State Invitational tournaments, leading the team with a 4.00 kps average.

 

The Panthers are 5-1 this season and received votes in this week's AVCA rankings. Freshman middle Layne Van Buskirk leads the Panther offense with a .396 hitting percentage and 2.41 kills/set.

 

The CCU Chanticleers have opened 5-1 this year after rolling to a perfect 14-0 league record and a Big South Conference title. Their lone loss is to then-No. 24 Purdue. Coastal has two players averaging better than three kills/set in junior outside Leah Hardeman (3.39) and senior middle Annayka Legros.

 

American's next home matches will be Sept. 23 against Bucknell at 7 p.m. and Sept. 24 against Lafayette at 2 p.m. Tickets for home matches are available at www.aueagles.com/tickets.