WASHINGTON - Four matches are on the slate this weekend as American University volleyball gets set for an exciting season in 2024. Two of those matches will take place in Bender Arena, both on Saturday, as the Eagles host George Mason (noon) and UC Riverside (6 p.m.) on August 31. AU will also travel to Georgetown on Friday, Aug. 30, and to George Washington on Sunday, Sept. 1. The three matches against local rivals are part of the annual DC Classic.
Quick Info
- Ticket info for Saturday in Bender Arena: AUEagles.com/Tickets
- Both home matches, and the road match at GW, can be watched live on ESPN+.
- The Hoyas play in McDonough Hall, while the Revolutionaries of GW host matches at the Charles E. Smith Center.
Inside the Series
- All-time, the Eagles lead Georgetown 19-12, George Mason 24-18, UC Riverside 1-0, and George Washington 12-10.
- American stumbled against Georgetown last season with a five-set home loss after wins in 2021 and 2022. It was the only loss in the opening six matches for the Eagles in 2023.
- Last year, AU edged George Mason on the road in five sets after sweeping the Patriots in 2022 at home. Mason was also the winner in 2021, taking it 3-1 in Fairfax.
- The Eagles beat UC Riverside in straight sets in California during the 2000 season, which was the only prior meeting between the teams.
- AU's win streak against GW is up to six matches, with the last loss in the series coming back in 2015. The 2022 win at home was a memorable one, giving former head coach Barry Goldberg his 800th career victory.
What to Know About American
- It's a very young group that takes the court for the Eagles in 2024 under second-year head coach Ahen Kim, with seven freshmen and five sophomores among the total roster number of 16.
- American returns just three seniors and one junior, led by 2023 Patriot League Setter of the Year Esma Sipahi who is back for her final season. Sipahi was picked as the 2024 Preseason Setter of the Year in the Patriot League, and was named to the Preseason All-League Team.
- The only other fourth-year Eagle is libero Bridget Javitch, who ranked fourth in the Patriot League with 4.42 digs per set last year.
- The team has a large international presence with three student-athletes from Turkey, two from Hungary and one from Sweden.
- The Eagles are without 2023 Patriot League Player of the Year Zeynep Uzen, a four-time All-PL First Team selection who used her fifth year of eligibility last season. Uzen finished her career ranked third all-time at American and second all-time in the Patriot League with 1,729 kills.
- One newcomer likely to make an immediate impact shares a hometown and first name with Uzen. Zeynep "Zedo" Yilmaz joins the Eagles from Istanbul and is a 6-1 outside hitter.
- AU won nine of its last 10 matches including a six-match win streak near the end of the regular season in 2023. The Eagles swept Army in the PL semifinals after losing twice to the Black Knights in the regular season, but suffered a 3-0 loss to Colgate in the championship match despite beating the Raiders at home a month earlier.
- During last season's win streak, the Eagles beat three teams that had gotten the best of them in the first half of Patriot League play—Loyola Maryland, Colgate and Navy.
- Sipahi, the 2023 PL Setter of the Year and an All-PL First Team selection, led the PL with 10.16 assists per set and ranked fifth in the PL with 0.36 service aces per set in 2023.
- American is under the direction of second-year head coach Ahen Kim, who was on the bench as an assistant coach for the Eagles from 2012-17 under Barry Goldberg.
- The Eagles continue to wear jersey patches commemorating their former coach. Goldberg, who amassed an incredible 812 wins at AU, passed away of cancer in March of 2023.
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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