WORCESTER, Mass. - Tying for the most kills in a three-set match among any player in the Patriot League so far this season, freshman
Zedo Yilmaz put on a show in leading American University volleyball to a sweep at Holy Cross by scores of 25-22, 25-17 and 25-22. Yilmaz posted 20 kills on 30 attempts, hitting a career-best .600. The Eagles improved to 13-3 overall and 3-1 in league play after four straight conference matches on the road.
Notable
- Yilmaz added eight digs and two blocks to her 20 kills, falling just short of a double-double.
- Senior Lilou Stegeman hit .643 with 10 kills on 14 attempts, and led all players with seven blocks which is tied for the third-most in a three-set match in the PL this season.
- Senior setter Esma Sipahi recorded assists on 39 of AU's 46 kills.
- Freshman libero Bella Marrero tallied 15 digs and an ace, and freshman middle blocker Elise Sterling added four blocks to five kills. Sterling recorded a kill on all five of her attack attempts to hit 1.000 for the match.
- Sophomore Sofia Osterdahl posted a career-high five blocks along with nine kills and five digs.
How it Happened
- American led from the very first point in both the first and third sets, never letting Holy Cross tie or take the lead.
- Yilmaz had six kills in the opening set, including the set-winner, as AU hit .273 to the Crusaders' .085.
- After starting the second set in a 3-0 hole, Marrero served out a good run for the Eagles that put them ahead 5-3.
- The teams were tied at 7-7 before AU took the lead for good, and the Eagles later closed it out on a 3-0 run capped by an ace from Stegeman for the 25-17 win.
- Yilmaz led the way again with eight kills in the third set, starting AU off with a kill for a 1-0 lead the Eagles never relinquished.
- Holy Cross fought off three match points before Stegeman ended it again, this time with a kill for the 25-22 win. Stegeman posted kills on all four of her attack attempts in the third set.
Next Up
- The Eagles finally return home and will host Bucknell at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 before taking on Lafayette at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5.
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