WASHINGTON - Behind career-highs from Zeynep Uzen, Asli Celikkol and Chiara Bosetti, the American University volleyball team pulled out an exciting, 3-2 win at home against Loyola Maryland on Saturday evening. The Greyhounds (14-7, 6-4) had swept the Eagles (12-11, 6-4) in the last meeting earlier in the month.

NOTABLE

• Uzen posted a career- and match-high 30 kills while also tying her career high of five blocks.
• With a career-high 38 digs, Bosetti ranks eighth among all players in NCAA Division I this season for a five-set match. Her previous career high of 35 digs still ranks fifth this season in a three-set match.
• Celikkol posted a double-double with career-highs in both kills (17) and digs (15).
• Tyra Areskoug recorded a season-high 44 assists, and Rachael Bennett was strong defensively with 10 digs.
• Both Carlie Fikse and Katie Putney posted nine kills apiece, and Fikse led the Eagles with six blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Just a few extra blocks by Loyola Maryland in the opening set made the difference, as the Greyhounds won 25-21. Both teams had 15 kills, with AU committing seven errors to Loyola's six.
• The Eagles looked strong all the way through the second set, jumping out to an early lead and building on it.
• American out-hit Loyola .317 to .118 for the set with 17 kills to the Greyhounds' nine. Uzen was outstanding, and had recorded 16 kills by the end of just two sets.
• Uzen set up set point with her 16th kill, and served up an ace for the final second-set score of 25-16.
• The Eagles trailed early in the third set before coming back to tie at 16-16. Four more ties followed before AU pulled away by a couple.
• Putney gave the Eagles set point with a kill, and after one more Loyola point, Uzen put down her 20th kill of the match for the 25-22 win and a 2-1 set lead.
• Loyola never trailed in winning the fourth set 25-19, getting 16 team kills to AU's 11 along with an aces advantage of 3-0.
• The fourth set, and much of the match, was highlighted with long rallies which led to an impressive number of digs for both teams (88 for American and 80 for Loyola).
• Momentum shifted back to AU in the final set, which the Eagles won decisively by a score of 15-7.
• Allie Burke and Areskoug teamed up for a big block to make it 8-4, Areskoug caught Loyola off guard with a kill for 11-5, and Celikkol got a kill for a 12-5 lead. 
• Uzen got kills 29 and 30 for AU's 13th and 14th points, and Putney ended the match with her ninth kill.

NEXT UP

• AU will return to Bender Arena on Sunday to host Navy at 4 p.m.

KEEP UP WITH US

• For the latest on American University Volleyball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Volleyball), Facebook (/AU.Volleyball) and Instagram (@au_volleyball).