BETHLEHEM, Pa. - As the historic career of Zeynep Uzen winds down, the American University volleyball fifth-year standout has been honored as the 2023 Patriot League Player of the Year. Junior Esma Sipahi earned a major award as well, being named the PL Setter of the Year, and both earned all-league honors along with grad student Carlie Fikse.

Uzen, now a four-time All-PL First Team selection, has led American in kills in each year of her career. She has recorded a total of 1,687 kills to rank third all-time in program history both at AU and in the Patriot League, and recently became the fourth AU player to ever post both 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. Her 1,052 digs rank ninth all-time, while her 3.72 kills per set rank fifth all-time.

This season, Uzen leads the Patriot League with 4.03 kills per set and 4.53 points per set. Her 2.37 digs per set are second on the team, and Uzen's versatility allows her to play in every rotation for American. In her career, she has reached double figures in digs 86 times, with 43 double-doubles. Uzen was also named to the Patriot League First Team as a freshman, junior and senior. She was named to the Patriot League All-Tournament Team and Preseason All-Patriot League Team as a junior, and was the PL's Preseason Player of the Year in each of the last two seasons. 

Sipahi's PL Setter of the Year and PL First Team honors are her first from the League, and well-deserved after an outstanding season as AU's setter for nearly every point. She is the only player in the PL to average over 10 assists per set, and also ranks fifth in the league with 0.39 service aces per set (39 overall). She surpassed 1,000 assists in the 2023 season alone, and has 1,814 in her career.

This season, Sipahi has recorded 11 double-doubles and was two blocks away from a triple-double recently with eight blocks against Army. Her 70 total blocks rank second on the team, impressive for a setter, while her 234 digs rank third.

Fikse was named to the All-PL Second Team for the second time in her career after also earning that honor as a senior in 2021. Her hitting percentage of .335 leads the team and ranks third in the PL, while her 0.99 blocks per set average (107 total blocks) leads the team and ranks seventh in the PL. Fikse exploded for a career-high of 11 blocks in the Eagles' 3-2 win over Colgate on Oct. 15, and her career total of 352 blocks ranks eighth all-time in program history.

American earned the No. 3 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, and will host No. 6 Loyola Maryland in a quarterfinal match at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14 in Bender Arena. Tickets are on sale at AUEagles.com/Tickets. 

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).