Prinzez Zeck celebrating with her teammates.
Josh Markowitz
2
Lehigh Lehigh 9-10,3-7 Patriot
3
Winner American Americ 16-4,9-1 Patriot
Lehigh Lehigh
9-10,3-7 Patriot
2
Final
3
American Americ
16-4,9-1 Patriot
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Lehigh Lehigh 27 22 23 25 9 (2)
American Americ 25 25 25 22 15 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Volleyball Edges Out Lehigh Behind Zeck's Career Night, 3-2

WASHINGTON - In a punch-for-punch Patriot League battle, the American University volleyball team gutted out a 3-2 victory over Lehigh to win its ninth match in a row on Friday night at Bender Arena. The Eagles were led by a career-high 18 kills from Prinzez Zeck on a scorching .571 hitting percentage, while Deniz Dakak dished out 59 assists. 

Notable
  • Zeck added four block assists to her phenomenal night, giving her 20 points. Dakak's 59 assists are also a career-high, raising her Patriot League-leading number to 733. The sophomore added 12 digs to make it her fourth double-double of the season, 
  • Elise Sterling supported Zeck up front with a stellar night of her own, hitting .500 with 13 kills and helping deny six Lehigh attack attempts. The pair contributed seven of AU's 12 total blocks on the evening. 
  • Sophie Dufour matched Zeck's 18 kills, adding nine digs. The freshman continues to lead American offensively, now holding 275 kills for the second-most in the Patriot League. 
  • Salme Adeele Hollas recorded her fourth double-double of the year with 15 kills and 14 digs, including a crucial dig early on in the fifth set. 
  • Bella Marrero was strong for the Eagles defensively, logging 21 digs. She produced five assists and put down three aces in a quality night for the sophomore. 
  • AU had a season-high 69 kills and 67 assists tonight. 
  • The Eagles are now 9-1 in Patriot League play and remain in second place behind Colgate. AU can clinch a spot in the Patriot League Tournament with a win tomorrow against Bucknell. 
How it Happened 
  • Lehigh led for the majority of the first set, but it was a tight fight that required extra points. The Mountain Hawks got out to a strong start, taking a 10-6 lead that forced an AU timeout. 
  • The visitors were in front until the Eagles tied the match at 22-22, then took the lead 23-22. The comeback effort was finished off by a kill from Hollas and Sterling, then a solo block from Sterling. 
  • The Eagles had match point at 24-23 after a service error from Grace Slovensky, but a block from Mary Massias and Olivia Lassee tied the score. The Mountain Hawks took three of the next four points to win the frame 27-25. 
  • Blocking was a key factor in the first set, as Lehigh had eight denials to 0 for AU. American also struggled on the receiving end, committing four reception errors. 
  • The intensity of the match continued into the second set, with the lead changing hands five times before AU  went ahead 15-14 and never let the advantage go. 
  • The Eagles used six kills and a service ace to score seven of their final 11 points from the attacking side of the net, with two kills apiece from Sciborski, Sterling, and Zeck, and the ace from Marrero. Dufour and Zeck led the way in the frame with four kills each. It was a much cleaner set for AU, committing just one reception error. 
  • Tightening their grip on the match, the Eagles never trailed in the third set. With the score tied 11-11, AU went on an 8-4 run to make it 19-14. 
  • The Mountain Hawks responded with a 9-4 run of their own, challenging AU and leveling the score at 23-23. Staying composed, Sterling put down a kill and Hollas delivered a service ace to seal the set. 
  • Lehigh got even in the fourth set, gutting out a 25-22 win in a back-and-forth thriller in which neither team led by more than three points. 
  • Trailing 20-18, Lehigh got a kill from Fingall and an ace from Abby Felkai to tie it 20-20. The Mountains went on a 6-2 run the rest of the way to close it out and force a fifth set. 
  • The deciding set took a turn in AU's favor after a thrilling rally gave the Eagles a 7-5 lead. Mary Massias took a big swing from the left side pin that was deflected by Zeck, then Hollas sprawled down the right side line, getting her right hand to the ball to keep the point alive. Fingall sent back another attack attempt that was dug again by Hollas, and finished off by Zeck for the kill.
  • American led the rest of the way, closing the set on a 9-4 run. Maddy Stewart came on to serve the final two points, earning a service ace on the first and forcing Lehigh out-of-system on the second. 
Up Next
  • The Eagles are back at home to face Bucknell tomorrow afternoon. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
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).
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