WASHINGTON – The American University volleyball team won't have to travel far for its first series of matches this season, as the Eagles will make the short drive to George Washington for the DC Challenge on Friday and Saturday.

The weekend will open with a pair of matches on Friday against host GW (noon) and another local foe, Howard (5 p.m.), followed by an 11 a.m. start against Hartford on Saturday.

SERIES HISTORY

• The Eagles hold an 8-10 record against host George Washington after claiming victories during their last two meetings. The Colonials last toppled AU in 2015, 3-2.
• American has dominated the 36-game series against Howard, 33-3. The last time AU lost to the Bison was in 2016, 3-2, and before that in 1995, 3-2.
• This will be only the third time that AU has faced Hartford on the volleyball court. The Hawks came away with the win in the series debut in 1993, 3-2, with the Eagles drawing even the following year, 3-0.

NOTES

• The Eagles will look to an exciting mix of youth and experience on the 2019 squad after graduating a talented class in 2018, including three-time AVCA All-Region and Patriot League Player of the Year, Aleksandra Kazala.
• Leading the group of returners is 2019 Patriot League Preseason All-League selection, junior outside hitter Helena Elbaek, and 2017 PL Libero of the Year, senior Kristen Largay.
• Elbaek leads the returners with her 318 kills from last season, followed by senior Vela McBride (168).
• Largay became the third player in program history to ever reach 1,400 career digs. She is currently second in the AU record books with 1,490 and sits less than 400 away from surpassing current record holder Natasha Sylvain (1,865 from 1990-94).
• McBride also closed 2018 with a spot in the AU record books after earning 262 career blocks for 10th all-time.
• Other key returners for the Eagles include junior Megan Crush, senior Jasmine Ellison, senior Jeanne Westney, senior Aleksandra Sochacka, and junior Olivia Wassner.
• AU also welcomes an exciting group of newcomers for the 2019 season, including junior transfer Chiara Bosetti. She is joined by a seven-player freshman class with Rachael Bennett (Germantown, Md.), Asli Celikkol (Izmir, Turkey), Ally DeGaray (Huntington, N.Y.), Julianne Gallagher (Downington, Pa.), Caitlin McKee (Hinsdale, Ill.), Onuchi Ndee (Houston, Tx.), and Inbal Peleg (Haifa, Israel).
• The Eagles were ranked first in the Patriot League Preseason Poll by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. AU has dominated the league since its entrance in 2001 and will look to claim its 16th PL title and 18th NCAA Tournament berth in 2019.

SCOUTING THE COLONIALS

• George Washington was ranked fifth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll after returning four starters from last year's squad, including senior Skylar Iott who led the team last year with 385 kills.
• The Colonials closed 2018 with an 11-15 overall record (5-9 A10) but fell just short of advancing into the conference tournament.
• Other returning starters include senior outside hitter Jordan Young, senior setter Jaimeson Lee, and junior libero Sydney Welch.

SCOUTING THE BISON

• Howard was predicted to top the MEAC Northern Division during the preseason poll, placing three players on the preseason squad with senior Kira Porter, junior Jurnee Tipton, and junior Fola Wilson.
• The Bison claimed the MEAC title last season with a 3-0 sweep against North Carolina A&T State and advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they fell to No. 8 Penn State, 3-0.
• Porter led the conference in hitting percentage (.350) and ranked within the top-75 of the NCAA.
• Tipton returns after leading the Bison in kills last season (336) and Wilson is the top returning setter after pitching in 83 assists last year.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS

• Hartford is coming off one of its most successful seasons in recent years, culminating in the program's first berth in the America East Tournament since 1996 and an 11-14 overall record (4-8 America East).
• Among the nine returners from last year's squad is the 2018 America East Player of the Year, senior middle blocker Jenna Bridges. She was also the program's first AVCA All-Region honoree since 1992 after leading the league in hitting percentage (.339), kills per set (4.10), blocks per set (1.0), and points per set (4.67).
• The Hawks also welcome back one of the best setters in the conference with junior Megan Anderson, who ranked second in the America East in assists per set (10.55) and service aces per set (0.28). Junior Brittany Braun will also return after ranking second on the team in kills per set (2.47) and blocks per set (0.86).
• Hartford was picked third in the America East preseason poll.

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