WASHINGTON - The American University volleyball team (6-5) opened its two-match home weekend with its third sweep of the season, defeating Rutgers (6-4) in straight sets Friday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Seniors Jeanne Westney and Aleksandra Sochacka led American with 11 kills and 10 kills, respectively. Westney also helped lead the Eagles' defensive efforts with three blocks.
• Senior Kristen Largay came away with a team-high 16 digs while junior Olivia Wassner contributed 35 assists.
• American closed the match with the advantage in assists, 37-23, digs, 43-30, and blocks, 10-8. AU also led with a season-high .316 hitting percentage while Rutgers was held to .167.
• The Eagles dominated nearly from the get-go, bouncing back after a couple of errors opened the match to hit a 9-2 run and open a comfortable gap midway through the first set. AU seemed poised to hold the Scarlet Knights to single-digits in the first, but Rutgers found its rhythm and matched the Eagles point-for-point down the stretch until a kill from freshman Asli Celikkol ended the set, 25-14.
• Rutgers kept American within sight during the second set, drawing even with the Eagles three times before taking a 15-11 lead after a 4-0 run. But AU responded in kind, hitting a 4-0 run of their own to tie the set up again at 15-15. The Eagles continued to control the tempo, closing with seven unanswered points as Rutgers struggled with three consecutive errors to end at 25-17.
• Junior Helena Elbaek put Rutgers on its heels off the bat in the third set with a pair of early points to help the Eagles to a 3-0 lead. Rutgers bounced back briefly, tying the set at 4-4 but a 6-0 AU run built up a comfortable cushion at 10-4. American built up as much as an eight-point lead before Rutgers started chipping away, eventually landing as close at three points before a final kill from freshman Onuchi Ndee closed the match at 25-21.

UP NEXT

• American will be back in Bender at 4 p.m. on Saturday to host SEC contender Ole Miss for the team's annual Bender Blue Out District Day. 

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).