WASHINGTON - After playing four straight road matches to start the Patriot League season, the American University volleyball team returns home to host Bucknell and Lafayette in the Eagles' first PL home games of the season. Bucknell visits Bender Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, and Lafayette faces AU at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 for the Eagles' Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
Special Presentations Friday Night
- Senior libero Bridget Javitch and senior setter Esma Sipahi both reached significant career milestones earlier this season, and will be honored in a special presentation prior to the start of Friday night's match.
- Sipahi, the 2023 PL Setter of the Year and 2024 PL Preseason Setter of the Year, passed the 2,000-assist milestone in a win vs. UC Riverside on Aug. 31, and now ranks eighth all-time in program history with 2,497 assists. Her 9.85 assists per set lead the Patriot League.
- Javitch passed the 1,000-dig milestone during AU's weekend at the Campbell Invitational, and now ranks 10th all-time in program history with 1,045 digs.
Concessions at Bender Arena
Throughout the 2024 volleyball season, Gregorio's Trattoria will once again be providing food concessions at all home volleyball matches in Bender Arena.
- Fans can enjoy Gregorio's favorites including menu selections of pizza, chicken fingers, hot dogs, chips, desserts and more, as well as a full selection of refreshing Pepsi products.
- Credit cards and EagleBuck$ are accepted.
- NO outside food or beverages are permitted into Bender Arena.
Inside the Series
- American leads Bucknell 52-4 in the all-time series, and won twice last season with a 3-1 victory in Lewisburg and a 3-0 sweep at home.
- Three of the Bison's four wins have come in the last seven meetings between the teams.
- Bucknell swept the regular season matches in 2022 with a five-set win in DC and a four-set win in Lewisburg, while AU took both matches in 2021 including a sweep on the road.
- AU is 45-1 all-time against Lafayette and has won six straight since suffering its only loss in 2021.
- Last year, the Eagles won 3-0 at home and 3-1 on the road.
What to Know About American
- American has swept three of four Patriot League opponents so far and has an impressive overall record of 13-3 after going 10-2 in non-conference action.
- Freshman outside hitter Zedo Yilmaz has earned four of the first five Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors (Sept. 3, Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1). She is among the PL leaders in points (2nd, 3.95 per set), kills (4th, 3.38 per set), and aces (8th, 0.34 per set).
- Freshman middle blocker Elise Sterling took the only PL Rookie honor not won by Yilmaz (Sept. 10). Junior outside hitter Adelina Berisha made it a PL sweep on Sept. 17, earning her first-ever Player of the Week honor.
- Senior middle blocker Lilou Stegeman leads the PL with a hitting percentage of .395, and ranks seventh with 0.98 blocks per set. She's having a breakout season after tearing her ACL upon her transfer from UAlbany in 2022. She was solid as a junior, but has already surpassed her kill total of 106 from last year (now with 133).
- Senior setter Esma Sipahi, the 2023 PL Setter of the Year and 2024 PL Preseason Setter of the Year, passed the 2,000-assist milestone in a win vs. UC Riverside on Aug. 31, and now ranks eighth all-time in program history with 2,497 assists. Her 9.85 assists per set lead the Patriot League.
- Senior libero Bridget Javitch passed the 1,000-dig milestone during AU's weekend at the Campbell Invitational, and now ranks 10th all-time in program history with 1,045 digs.
- Sterling ranks third in the PL with a hitting percentage of .348. Berisha ranks ninth in kills per set at 2.92, and posted double-doubles in five straight matches concluding with the sweep at Loyola Maryland (17 kills, 11 digs).
Volleyball Season Tickets Available Today
- Support your 16-time Patriot League Champion with exciting match-ups against Maryland, Howard and George Mason!
- Tickets are $30 for adult, $20 for youth (3-14) and senior (65+) for all 15 home matches.
- Purchase your tickets today at AUEagles.com/tickets or call (202) 885-2617
Host Your Group Outing in the Bender Arena Skybox
- This private luxury seating space seats 30 guests with a balcony view of the game.The space features comfortable leather seats, two cable TVs and complimentary snacks and soft drinks.Single-match rentals are priced at $350. Additional catering is also available.
- Call (202) 885-2617 or email Clawed@american.edu to check skybox availability.
Single Match Ticket Information
- Adult: $8
- Youth (3-14)/Senior (65+) : $5
- Military and Veterans : Free (must present a valid ID)
How to Watch the Eagles
- A subscription to ESPN+ is available for purchase via ESPN.com, ESPNPlus.com, or the ESPN App. Fans can access ESPN+ content only after they have subscribed. To subscribe, click here. It costs $10.99/month or $109.99/year.
- International fans can get a subscription through the Patriot League's International Live Streaming site.
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