WASHINGTON - Behind a season-high 18 blocks that helped hold Navy to a .061 hitting percentage, the American University volleyball team defeated the Midshipmen 3-0 in the Patriot League semifinal match on Friday night at Bender Arena. The Eagles will play for the conference title against Army on Sunday afternoon. 

Notable 

• Zeck led the blocking effort with five on the night, while Deniz Dakak and Elise Sterling had four. Zeck hit .500 on six kills in addition, and Sterling struck five kills on a .400 hitting percentage. 
• Dakak added 22 assists and 14 digs for her eighth double-double of the season.
• Salme Adeele Hollas led the offensive effort with 13 kills. She contributed six digs and two blocks as well, totaling 16 points.  
• The libero Bella Marrero had a productive night, adding six assists and two aces to 11 digs. 
• AU has now won 16 matches in a row, and the semifinal win marks the first time the team has advanced to the Patriot League Championship game since 2023. 

How it Happened 

• The Eagles began to separate from Navy midway through the first set. With the score 12-8, AU came up with back-to-back blocks through Zeck and Dakak, followed by a kill from Carly Sciborski.
• The sequence sparked a 13-4 AU run to close out the set 25-12. Hollas led the frame with four kills, and Sciborski followed with three. 
• It was a tighter second set that included several long rallies, forcing some of American's best volleyball of the night. 
• With the score tied 13-13, the Eagles took six of the next eight points. Hollas and Sterling put down kills, and block assists from Zeck and Dakak, then Zeck and Dufour followed to complete a 6-2 run that put AU in the driver's seat. 
• Navy cut the lead to three at 20-17, but American rattled off five straight points to close it out 25-17. 
• The Mids punched with AU in the third set as well, but another late surge from the Eagles won the set. 
• Trailing 18-17, the Eagles shut the door with an 8-3 run. Dakak delivered an ace, Dufour, Hollas, and Zeck struck kills, and Marrero finished off the match with an ace.  

Up Next 

• The Eagles will face off with Army in the championship match on Sunday afternoon. First serve is set for 3 p.m.