WASHINGTON – On senior day in Bender Arena, the American University volleyball team (20-8, 10-6) went the distance, playing five sets against Lehigh (15-12, 8-8). The Mountain Hawks claimed the victory with a 15-9 win in the fifth set, but the two teams will face each other in Bender again on Tuesday, Nov. 19 in a Patriot League quarterfinal at 6 p.m. American is the No. 3 seed, and Lehigh comes in as the No. 6 seed.
Notable
How It Happened
- A fast start for Lehigh when they opened on a 4-0 run before the Eagles got back into it. AU swung back, forcing a tie at 20-all. Mountain Hawks would go on to win though, 26-24 in set one.
- The Eagles held a narrow 14-13 advantage in kills in the first set, but Lehigh held the slight .212 to .200 advantage in hitting percentage.
- The second set was even closer than the first; a back and forth contest tied at 14 midway through. Osterdahl had two kills in a row to put the Eagles ahead 19-17.
- Berisha's eighth kill of the match would level the teams 1-all in set victories, AU taking it 25-22. The junior was hitting .353 through two sets.
- The Eagles opened set three with a 7-2 run. Lehigh came back, tying it at 12-all to make the scoreline even for the first time in the third set.
- AU claimed set three, 25-22, leading 17-11 in kills and outhitting Lehigh, .295 to .198.
- Set four saw the tight matchup continue. The teams duking it out to a tie at 8-all, before the Mountain Hawks went on a 3 point run, up 11-8. American fought back, leading 15-14 at the media timeout. Lehigh would claim the fourth set 25-22.
- In the short set five, AU went down early and quick, behind 7-3. They came within four, down 13-9, but were unable to make up the difference and Lehigh took the match victory.
Up Next
- The Eagles will have a quick turnaround before taking the court, again facing off with Lehigh in Bender. This time, it will be in the Patriot League quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.
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