HAMILTON, N.Y. - Despite 18 kills in three sets from grad student
Zeynep Uzen, it proved to be her final match as American University volleyball suffered a heartbreaking loss to No. 1 Colgate in the Patriot League Championship. The third-seeded Eagles looked very strong in the opening set, but it went to extra points and Colgate won 30-28. From there, the Raiders (22-7) took control to win their third straight league title.
NotableÂ
- Uzen finished her career with 1,729 kills and moved up to second place all-time in the Patriot League.
- Also playing in her final match was grad student Carlie Fikse who added two blocks to nine kills.
- Freshman Carly Sciborski posted six kills, and junior Bridget Javitch put up 19 digs in the final match of the season.
- Both Uzen and Fikse were named to the 2023 Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
How It Happened
- The Eagles were the clear aggressor early in the first set, jumping out to an 8-2 lead behind strong early play from Uzen.
- Colgate began to inch closer after the midway point, and a lost challenge helped the Raiders get to a tie at 21-21.
- The back-and-forth action got wild from there, with Colgate having the first two set points before AU had the next three.Â
- Sciborski knocked down kills on each of Colgate's first two set points, and Fikse had some massive plays as well, but finally, it was the Raiders who put together two straight points for the 30-28 win.
- The Eagles looked deflated after the end of the first, and were no match for the Raiders in the second set. They were out-hit .389 to .029 and dropped the set 25-12 as Colgate took a 2-0 lead in the match.
- There was more fight left at times in the third set, but after a 13-10 lead for AU, Colgate used a 7-0 run to surge ahead.
- AU was within one at 19-18, but the Raiders closed out the championship with a 6-1 run to take the title for a third year in a row.
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