volleyball celebration huddle
Chris Thompkins Photography
1
Loyola Maryland Loyola 3-7,1-2 Patriot
3
Winner American Americ 8-5,1-2 Patriot
Loyola Maryland Loyola
3-7,1-2 Patriot
1
Final
3
American Americ
8-5,1-2 Patriot
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Loyola Maryland Loyola 25 25 23 19 (1)
American Americ 23 27 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Volleyball Wins PL Home Opener, Beating Loyola Maryland in Four Sets

WASHINGTON - Led by double-doubles from freshman Adelina Berisha and sophomore Esma Sipahi, the American University volleyball team came from behind to win in four sets against Loyola Maryland in the Eagles' Patriot League home opener on Friday night. The Eagles dropped the first set 25-23 before winning 27-25, 25-23 and 25-19.

NOTABLE
  • Berisha posted 18 kills along with a career-high 10 digs, while Sipahi a career-high 12 digs and a career-high three aces to 40 assists.
  • The Eagles served up a season-high 11 aces and posted a season-high 12 team blocks.
  • Leading the blocking effort was grad student Carlie Fikse with six, while junior Katie Putney and senior Onuchi Ndee added five blocks each. Adding to her already impressive stat line, Sipahi tied her career high with four blocks.
  • Sophomore Bridget Javitch led AU with a career-high 22 digs and also served up two aces.
  • Senior Zeynep Uzen, honored prior to the match with a commemorative game ball for her 1,000 career kills, finished with 11 kills, nine digs, two aces and two blocks.
  • Putney had nine kills and hit .336, while Ndee finished with seven kills and hit a season-best .538.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Uzen and Berisha were both strong in the first set, but the Eagles didn't have quite enough help defensively. 
  • AU trailed 19-15 and 22-19 before making it exciting with a 3-0 run capped by a Javitch ace, but the Greyhounds pulled away in the end.
  • Berisha fought off one set point with her sixth kill, but a defensive error by AU gave the set to Loyola Maryland, 25-23.
  • American was strong for most of the second set and had a number of four-point leads, including one at 23-19 before a 3-0 run by the Greyhounds.
  • Loyola then erased a set point to tie it up at 24-24 before taking set point, 25-24.
  • Berisha refused to let another set get away, coming up with three straight kills for the comeback, the tie and the victory.
  • The Eagles out-hit Loyola Maryland .220 to .115 in the second set, committing fewer than half the errors of the Greyhounds.
  • American let a lead slip away again in the third set, as five-point leads were erased down the stretch.
  • The teams were tied up at 19, 21, 22 and 23 before a solo block for Uzen was followed by a double block for Putney and Ndee to give American the 25-23 win.
  • Errors were once again limited for AU in the third set as the Eagles made just four hitting errors compared to eight by the Greyhounds, and put down four team blocks to Loyola's two.
  • The 11th and final tie of the fourth set came at 18-18 before a huge closing run for American. 
  • Fans were fired up as the Eagles scored seven of the final eight points of the match including three aces. Sipahi was the hero in the end, serving up back-to-back aces for match point and the winner as AU prevailed, 25-19.


UP NEXT
  • The Eagles will be back on the road to play at Navy on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m.
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