BETHLEHEM, Pa. - At the end of a special season for the American University volleyball team, the Eagles earned a wave of recognition in the Patriot League postseason awards. Deniz Dakak was named both the Player of the Year and Setter of the Year, Sophie Dufour Rookie of the Year, Bella Marrero Libero of the Year, and the Coaching Staff of the Year was awarded to Ahen Kim and his assistants. Prinzez Zeck, Elise Sterling, and Salme Adeele Hollas round out the impressive showing with spots on the All-League teams. 

Six All-League selections is the most in program history since 2004, and it's the second time that American has won all five Patriot League major awards (2015).

Dakak is the third-ever player to win both the Player and Setter of the Year award, as American's Monika Smidova did it twice (2014, 2015) and Colgate's Juila Kurowski did it in 2022. The sophomore had a masterful season as the engine of American's offense, driving the Eagles to a .294 hitting percentage that ranks 12th in the country, along with her 10.53 assists per set that ranks 16th. She was in a league of her own with 947 assists, leading the conference in every week of the season and outpacing the next setter by 130. The Istanbul, Turkey native had seven double-doubles through assists and digs, logged 56 blocks, and put additional points on the board with 32 aces. 

Dufour becomes the 10th player in program history to be named Rookie of the Year after a sensational freshman campaign, proving to be one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the Patriot League. She logged the second-most points in the conference with 391.5, putting down 345 kills and averaging 3.83 per set. In addition to her staggering performance as a hitter, Dufour made an impact all over the floor for AU. She recorded five double-doubles via kills and digs, totaled 31 blocks, 21 assists, and 29 service aces. Throughout the year, Dufour was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week a program record eight times.

Marrero was spectacular at libero all season long, racking up 371 digs and anchoring a defense that held the third-lowest opponent hitting percentage in the country at .140. She logged over 20 digs in four matches, and consistently stepped up against top competition. In one of the most important weekends of the season when AU faced Army and Colgate back-to-back, Marrero took on 35 digs and committed zero reception errors. Her 4.42 digs per set ranks 50th in the country and ties her for fourth all-time in AU's record book, and the sophomore added 78 assists with the second-most aces in league play with 22. Marrero is just the third libero in AU's history to win the major award. 

After leading the team to the second-most Patriot League wins in program history, head coach Ahen Kim and assistant coaches Maggie Catherina and Garrett Geiger earned the Coaching Staff the Year award. Catherina joined the staff this summer, and Geiger is in just his second season with the program. 

Having lost nine players from last year's team, Kim guided a squad of three freshmen, seven sophomores, three juniors, and zero seniors to one of the program's most impressive seasons. The Eagles won 22 games, the most under Kim's leadership and the most for American since 2019. They had an especially dominant year, winning 15 matches in a row and sweeping opponents 16 times. The third-year head coach has led AU to three straight 20-plus-win seasons now, elevating the program since returning to D.C. in 2023. 

Zeck and Sterling were incredibly efficient and reliable for AU, forming a dominant pairing up front. Sterling takes a spot on the Second Team after leading the conference in hitting percentage at .413 on 190 kills, a number that puts her 22nd in the country and second all-time in American's history. Zeck, a walk-on player just a year ago, earns a First Team selection after hitting .396 and posting 98 blocks. The junior swung for 178 kills and had her way in the center of the Eagles' offense, highlighting her breakout season with an 18-kill game against Lehigh on .571 hitting percentage and adding four blocks.

Salme Adeele Hollas has been a crucial six-rotation addition to AU's lineup this year, recording five double-doubles, 30 aces, and 26 blocks to earn a Second Team selection. She was a staple of AU's offensive production, striking 285 kills and averaging 3.76 points per set to give opposing defenses a lot to handle between her and Dufour on the pins. The sophomore transfer delivered a team season-high 22 kills against George Washington and hit over .300 in 10 matches.

The Eagles will await the lowest remaining seed after the first round of the Patriot League Tournament, hosting the semifinal round on Friday at Bender Arena. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.

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2025 Patriot League Women's Volleyball Major Award Winners
Player & Setter of the Year - Deniz Dakak, American, So., Setter
Libero of the Year - Bella Marrero, American, So., Libero
Rookie of the Year - Sophie Dufour, American, Fr, Outside Hitter
Barry Goldberg Coaching Staff of the Year - American – Head Coach: Ahen Kim; Assistant Coaches: Maggie Catherina, Garrett Geiger
 
2025 First Team All-Patriot League
Deniz Dakak, American, So., S
Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., OH
Prinzez Zeck, American, Jr., MB
Chloe Murakami, Army West Point, Sr., OH
Mackenzie Lynch, Army West Point, Sr., OH
Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, Jr., MB
Milan Bayless, Colgate, Jr., OH
Tiana Owens, Colgate, So., OH
Maddie Rudolph, Colgate, Sr., MB
Ava Toppin, Navy, Sr., MH
 
2025 Second Team All-Patriot League
Bella Marrero, American, So., L
Salme Adeele Hollas, American, Jr., OH
Elise Sterling, American, So., MB
Juliette Myrick, Army West Point, Jr., S
Tijana Kostic, Bucknell, Sr., OH/OPP
Emma Sorensen, Holy Cross, Fr., OH
Emily Gouldrop, Lafayette, Jr., L
Natalie Luscomb, Lehigh, Jr., RS
Kacy Sekunda, Loyola, Gr., S/OPP
Farrah Eike, Navy, So., OH