vb celebration berisha
1
UMBC UMBC 1-3,0-0 America East
3
Winner American Americ 4-0,0-0 Patriot
UMBC UMBC
1-3,0-0 America East
1
Final
3
American Americ
4-0,0-0 Patriot
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
UMBC UMBC 22 30 23 23 (1)
American Americ 25 28 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Freshman Adelina Berisha Leads Volleyball to a Gritty, 3-1 Win over UMBC

WASHINGTON - Freshman Adelina Berisha exploded for 21 kills and she was backed up by senior Zeynep Uzen and an impressive defensive effort as American University volleyball gutted out a four-set win over visiting UMBC by scores of 25-22, 28-30, 25-23 and 25-23. The Eagles improve to 4-0 for the season, while the Retrievers, winners of the America East in 2021, drop to 1-3.

NOTABLE
  • The match was about as back-and-forth as it gets, with a total of 54 ties and 31 lead changes along with plenty of extra volleyball in the second set.
  • Berisha hit .306 and totaled three blocks to go with her season-high 21 kills.
  • Uzen posted her second straight double-double with 16 kills to go with 14 digs.
  • Senior Inbal Peleg nearly reached a double-double with nine digs in addition to her 42 assists.
  • Senior Rachael Bennett led all players with 16 digs, while junior Maya Mrus tallied 12 digs.
  • The blocking was strong across the board as AU recorded 11 to UMBC's seven. Graduate student Carlie Fikse led the way with five blocks, while Peleg added four.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Eagles were down 19-16 in the opening set before mounting a comeback to tie it up at 19-19. Two more ties folllowed, but with AU up 23-22, Uzen and senior Onuchi Ndee knocked down back-to-back kills for the 25-22 win.
  • The most intense set of the match followed, as the second set featured 21 ties and 13 lead changes. American trailed 19-15 before a Berisha kill started a 5-1 run that was capped by another kill from Fikse.
  • AU fought off one set point before earning three of its own, but the Retrievers battled each time. Finally, after a Berisha solo block put the Eagles up 28-27, UMBC strung together three points in a row to hand AU a tough set loss, 30-28.
  • In set three, the teams were tied once again as late as 22-22. After a Fikse-Berisha block for set point at 24-22, UMBC got the next one, but Peleg put down the perfect dump for the 25-23 victory. It was Berisha's most impressive set of the match with seven kills and only a single error.
  • UMBC's 10 errors proved costly down the stretch of the fourth set as AU took the lead and was able to hold it the rest of the way for a 25-23 win.
  • For the match, AU hit .252 to UMBC's .171 and had 69 digs to the Retrievers' 56.


NEXT UP
  • American will have a quick turnaround before hosting Delaware on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. in Bender Arena. Tickets are available HERE.
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