Game 11 · American (5-5) vs. Rutgers (6-3) · Friday, Sept. 20 · 7 p.m.
Live Video / Live Stats
Game 12 · American (5-5) vs. Ole Miss (6-3) · Saturday, Sept. 21 · 4 p.m.
Live Video / Live Stats
Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
All-Time Records: American leads Rutgers, 3-0 | American vs. Ole Miss, first meeting
WASHINGTON – Rutgers and Ole Miss will visit Bender Arena this weekend as the American University volleyball team gets set to host matches on both Friday, Sept. 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21. The Ole Miss contest on Saturday is the Eagles' Bender Blue Out District Day. Each of the top 10 crowds in AU volleyball history have come during Bender Blue Out promotions.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
• AU is coming off a 2-2 week that included sweeps of both Duke and Norfolk State.
• Four Eagles earned All-Tournament Team honors over the three early season tournaments: freshman Asli Celikkol (Duke Invitational), senior Alexsandra Sochacka (American Volleyball Classic), freshman Onuchi Ndee (DC Challenge) and junior Helena Elbaek (DC Challenge MVP).
• Elbaek leads AU with 4.35 kills per set which also leads all players in the Patriot League.
• Juniors Olivia Wassner and Chiara Bosetti rank first and second in the conference with 0.63 and 0.57 service aces per set, respectively.
• Ndee's hitting percentage of .339 ranks second in the Patriot League, and senior Kristen Largay's 4.83 digs per set rank third in the league.
• As a team, the Eagles lead the conference in kills (13.41 per set) and aces (2.08 per set).
• AU was picked to finish first in the 2019 Patriot League Preseason Poll in a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Eagles have dominated the PL since joining in 2001, winning 15 tournament titles in 18 years.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
• Rutgers started the season 0-3 but has rebounded to win six straight, and did not drop a set last weekend in a tournament at Colgate where the Scarlet Knights swept New Hampshire, Quinnipiac and the host Raiders.
• As a team, Rutgers is averaging two kills more per set than its opponents, and also has 100 team blocks compared to 69 by opponents.
• With 3.03 blocks per set, the Scarlet Knights currently rank sixth among all teams in NCAA Division I.
• All but one starter returned to the Rutgers lineup this year, but the team is looking to improve upon a 6-27 finish in 2018.
• CJ Werneke is in his 12th season as head coach of the Scarlet Knights, who, with six wins, have surpassed their win total from each of the past four seasons.
• Leading Rutgers' balanced attack are four players who average over two kills per set, including Beka Kojadinovic with 2.27 kps, 2.87 digs per set and 1.13 blocks per set.
SCOUTING OLE MISS
• Ole Miss also started the season 0-3 and has also since won six matches in a row. The Rebels will face Howard on Friday before coming to American on Saturday. Most recently, Ole Miss went 3-0 at the Central Arkansas Classic.
• The Rebels have two players averaging over three kills per set - Emily Stroup (3.80 kps) and Anna Bair (3.23 kps). As a team, Ole Miss is hitting .226 compared to its opponents' .176.
• Defensively, Nicole Purcell leads the Rebels with 4.83 digs per set. Both Aubrey Sultemeier and Nayo Warnell average a block or better per set for the Rebels.
• Prior to claiming the Central Arkansas Classic title, Ole Miss also won the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Volleyball Classic crown, picking up sweeps against Houston Baptist and Missouri State before winning in five sets vs. Tulane.
• Ole Miss went 14-18 in 2018, with a 4-14 mark in the SEC. Head Coach Steven McRoberts, who is in his sixth season at the helm, got his 100th win on Sept. 8 with the victory over Tulane.
TICKETS
• Tickets to all AU volleyball matches at Bender Arena are available throughout the season.
• Bring a group of 10+ and save over 40 percent off your purchase, available at $3 per person.
• Individual game tickets are available for $8 for adults, $5 for general admission, youth under 17 and seniors over 65. Military members, veterans and AU students are invited to join the Eagles for free admission with valid ID.
• CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
• For inquiries, e-mail clawed@american.edu or call 202.885.TIXX (8499).
For the latest on American University Volleyball, check in with AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Volleyball), Instagram (@AU_Volleyball) and Facebook (AU.Volleyball).
