WASHINGTON - Defense was the key for American University volleyball in a 3-1 win over visiting Loyola Maryland by scores of 23-25, 25-23, 25-20 and 25-20, as the Eagles far exceeded their usual digs per set average. Leading American all around was graduate student
Zeynep Uzen with her 11th double-double of the season and fifth straight.
By the Numbers
- Uzen added 11 digs to a match-high 18 kills for her fifth double-double in a row, and also posted three blocks. Uzen needs just three more digs to reach 1,000 in her career.
- The Eagles totaled 73 digs to the Greyhounds' 65. AU's 18.25 digs per set average was nearly five digs above their season digs per set average.
- Junior libero Bridget Javitch tallied 21 digs and four aces, while senior Rachael Bennett also made a number of impressive saves on her way to a season-high 18 digs.
- Grad student Carlie Fikse put up nine kills and hit .474 with four blocks.
- Junior Lilou Stegeman added four blocks to eight kills and hit a match-best .583 as she only made 12 attempts overall.
- Sophomore Adelina Berisha finished with double figures in kills for a second match in a row with 10.
Notable
- The opening set saw a huge lead get away from American after a big run by Loyola. The Eagles led 17-10 before an 11-2 run by the Greyhounds gave them a 21-19 lead.
- AU fought off one set point on a kill from Uzen, but the Greyhounds put away the next one on a Kacy Sekunda kill.
- The fifth tie of the second set came at 19-19 before AU took the lead and held it the rest of the way. Uzen knocked down kills for a 23-21 lead, a 24-22 lead and the set-winner at 25-23.
- The Eagles pulled away near the midway point of both the third and fourth sets, and held Loyola to sub-.100 hitting in both.
- Loyola Maryland committed 11 hitting errors in the fourth set compared to just four for the Eagles, who closed out with two straight points to end both sets.
- The Eagles have now defeated two opponents—Colgate and Loyola—that beat them in the opening half of the Patriot League season.
Next Up
- The Eagles will be back in Bender on Saturday night to take on Navy at 7 p.m.
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