WASHINGTON - For the first time since 2019, the American University volleyball team has won the Patriot League Championship and punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament after a dominant 3-0 victory over Army in the final. The Eagles broke a tournament record by hitting .529 and committed just three reception errors, playing exceptional volleyball in the most important match of the season.

Notable

• The remarkable hitting percentage was driven by Deniz Dakak, as the Player and Setter of the Year in the conference added to her stellar season by dishing out 29 assists. She also logged six digs, two kills, and a block. 
• The previous Patriot League Tournament hitting percentage record was set in 1997. 
• Prinzez Zeck was perfect on the day, hitting an incredible .1000 with 11 kills to set another tournament record. 
• Elise Sterling and Salme Adeele Hollas both hit for eight kills, with Sterling hitting .545 and Hollas .364. Sophie Dufour had seven kills, while Carly Sciborski had five successful swings and hit .833. 
• Bella Marrero was spectacular at libero. Only eight digs were asked of her, but she got her body to multiple well-struck balls to keep points alive for AU and erase quality rallies from the Black Knights. 
• American had eight service aces as a team, led by three from Alex Ioannou. 
• Dakak was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, and Zeck and Hollas were selected to the All-Tournament Team.
• This is the 17th Patriot League championship in program history, and it will be American's 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament 
• Ahen Kim has won his first Patriot League championship as a head coach. He was on staff as an assistant at American for five Patriot League titles from 2012 to 2017. 
• The Eagles will await their NCAA First Round opponent during the Selection Show on Sunday, Nov. 30. 

How it Happened

• American got out to a strong start in the first set, taking an early 10-4 lead. Zeck, Sterling, and Dakak all had two kills apiece. 
• Army responded with a 9-5 run to cut the lead to two at 15-13, but the Eagles were in control the rest of the way. They finished the set on a 10-4 run that included four kills, an ace, and two blocks both shared by Sterling and Sciborski. 
• AU carried momentum into an even better second set, hitting a scorching .700 in the frame and winning it 25-12. 
• With the score tied 7-7, American pulled away on a 12-3 run to make it 19-10. Marrero had a phenomenal dig on the run, bodying a powerful swing from Janie Deapen that led to a kill from Sciborski.
• The Eagles continued their nearly perfect play in the third set, hitting .435 with just one attack error. Zeck had five more kills to reach her impeccable stat line, and AU won the frame 25-18. 

Up Next

• The Eagles will await their NCAA First Round opponent during the Selection Show on Sunday, Nov. 30 on ESPN at 6 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).