KINGSTON, R.I. - Two matches had two different results as American University volleyball recovered from a 3-2 loss against Rhode Island with a 3-0 win over Stonehill at URI's Keaney Gymnasium. The Eagles will play one more non-conference match at Howard on Sept. 19 before starting Patriot League play next weekend.

Rhode Island Match By the Numbers

• It was a great first match for AU's freshmen, with Carly Sciborski posting a career-high 17 kills, while Sofia Osterdahl added three aces and 10 digs to 14 kills.
• Grad student Carlie Fikse totaled 10 kills and hit .643, and grad student Zeynep Uzen had a double-double with a match and season-high 17 digs to go with 16 kills.
• Freshman Kaitlyn Evans made her season debut in the match, coming up with a team-high four blocks along with three kills.
• Blocking was a weak point overall for AU without the services of leading blocker Lilou Stegeman, as the Rams posted 18 blocks to AU's seven.

Stonehill Match By the Numbers

• Uzen had an outstanding effort as the only player in the match to reach double figures in kills. She posted 13 of them and hit an impressive .417, also recording seven digs.
• Osterdahl hit .368 with nine kills, while Fikse and Sciborski added seven kills apiece. 
• Junior Esma Sipahi tallied assists on 37 of AU's 39 kills, and overall the Eagles hit .427 compared to .108 for Stonehill.

Notable vs. Rhode Island

• There were five ties in a first set that was tight much of the way, but after the last tie at 18-18 it was the Rams who gained momentum.
• With a 7-1 closing run aided by a number of errors on the Eagles, Rhode Island took the opening set 25-19.
• The second set was even closer overall with nine ties and four lead changes, but the Eagles let an early 12-7 lead get away before recovering down the stretch.
• American eventually trailed 16-14 before evening it back up, and the final tie of the second set came at 21-21.
• From there, AU closed it out with two Uzen kills, a Fikse ace and an Evans solo block to win 25-21.
• After an 8-8 tie, American never trailed again in the third set, once again winning 25-21. Both Sciborski and Osterdahl were strong throughout, and Uzen put down kills for two of AU's final three points including the set-winner.
• The fourth set was a frustrating one as the Eagles had five chances to put the match away, but the Rams clawed back every time before ultimately pulling out a 31-29 victory. The set featured 18 ties and 10 lead changes.
• URI kept the momentum throughout the fifth set to win 15-7.

Notable vs. Stonehill

• American hit .400 in the opening set against Stonehill, which was much-needed as the Skyhawks held their own.
• The final tie of 11 total in that first set came at 21-21 before the Eagles closed it out and won 25-22 behind six kills in the set from Uzen.
• The hitting percentage rose to .500 in a dominant second set. Osterdahl posted five kills and the Eagles won easily, 25-16.
• Two big runs told the story in the third set. The Eagles used a 7-0 run for a 14-6 lead, but the Skyhawks got it back to within two points at 17-15.
• American then surged back ahead with a 6-0 run that included two Bridget Javitch aces, and the Eagles won easily by a score of 25-17 to finish the match.

Next Up

• American will head to nearby Howard University for a 6 p.m. match on Tuesday, Sept. 19, and then begin Patriot League play next weekend at Holy Cross and Army.

Keep Up With Us

• 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).