WASHINGTON - Patriot League play begins at home for the American University volleyball team, with the Eagles set to host a two-match weekend against Colgate and Army. The four-time defending conference champion Red Raiders come to Bender Arena on Friday night, and AU faces off against the Black Knights of Army on Saturday afternoon. 

Game Info

• Game times: 6:00 p.m. vs. Colgate, 4:00 p.m. vs. Army
• Ticket info for Friday and Saturday in Bender Arena: AUEagles.com/Tickets
• Both matches can be watched live on ESPN+.

Series History

• AU leads the all-time series 36-13, but Colgate has won eight of the last 10 matches as they've grown into a Patriot League heavyweight in recent years.
• The two teams split the season series last year, and the match at Bender Arena was a five-set thriller on Oct. 26, 2024. AU had match point seven different times in the final two sets, and the deciding frame included 12 ties and five lead changes. Zedo Yilmaz had a stellar performance, reaching a double-double with a team-high 19 kills and 13 digs.
• It's a marquee matchup in the Patriot League, as either American or Colgate has won the PL in 13 of the last 15 years. The two teams have met in the conference championship six times during that span, splitting the victories 3-3

What to Know About American

• The Eagles enter Patriot League play with a 7-3 record, most recently coming off a 2-1 week to close out their non-conference slate. They came up with victories in straight sets over Hampton and North Carolina A&T, but fell to Howard 3-0 on Sunday afternoon. 
• American has displayed one of the most complete rosters in the Patriot League so far, leading the conference in four major individual categories: hitting percentage (Elise Sterling, .399), kills (Sophie Dufour, 137), assists (Deniz Dakak, 347), service aces (Alex Ioannou, 30). 
• In addition, sophomore libero Bella Marrero is second in the PL in digs (155), and Prinzez Zeck is sixth in blocks with 33.
• Ioannou's 30 aces not only lead the conference, but also the country. The freshman from Cyprus has been lethal from the service area, averaging nearly one per set. 
• Dufour was named PL Rookie of the Week for a second straight time, coming off a 42-kill performance across AU's three contests. She caught fire last Wednesday against Hampton, going for 15 kills with a .700 hitting percentage. 
• Salme Adeele Hollas has also had a productive season on the outside, as the only other Eagle with over 100 kills so far (105). She logged 22 kills against GW on Aug. 31, which stands as the individual season-high for the team. 
• Zeck has led the way up front, recently reaching a single-game career-high of four solo blocks against Howard. She's averaging over one kill per set in what's been a strong start to the season for the junior.
• Sophomore setter Deniz Dakak has comfortably filled in the big shoes left by former PL Setter of the Year Esma Sipahi, as she's yet to record below 30 assists in a match and is dishing out nearly 10 per set. 
• The Eagles have been dominant at home, posting a 4-0 record inside of Bender Arena and losing just one set in those games. 

What to Know About Colgate

• Colgate enters Friday's contest with a 4-5 record, coming off back-to-back wins over Syracuse.
• The Red Raider attack is charged by 2024 PL Player of the Year Milan Bayless, who has tallied 133 kills to start her junior season. She sits only behind Dufour in that category, and leads the league in points with 156.5.
• Junior setter Deren Cukur has been one of Colgate's most active players on both sides of the ball, averaging 8.41 assists per game and totaling 110 digs so far. 
• Lal Akin was named Patriot League Women's Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week (9/16) after recording 17 blocks in a 2-1 week for the Raiders. The junior had eight block assists and six kills in Colgate's thrilling home win over Syracuse. 
• Colgate is strong up front overall, sitting at second in the PL in blocks with 84. 
• The Red Raiders lost nine seniors from last year's PL championship-winning team, returning Maddie Rudolph, Rachel Martinez, and Carlie Rzszotarski as this year's senior class.

Volleyball Weekend Game Day Prices 

• Adult: $15
• Youth (4-14)/Senior (65+): $10
• Children ages three (3) and under are not required to have a ticket to enter. If attending without a ticket, they must sit on the lap of an accompanying adult. All children ages three (3) years or older must have a ticket.
• All AU Undergraduate, Graduate and Washington College of Law Students receive FREE admission to regular season athletic events with your AU ID. Military and Veterans will receive the same rate as youth and seniors.

Host Your Group Outing in the Bender Arena Skybox

• This private luxury seating space seats 30 guests with a balcony view of the game.
• The space features comfortable leather seats, two cable TVs and complimentary snacks and soft drinks.
• Single-match rentals are priced at $450. Additional catering is also available.
• Call (202) 885-2617 or email clawed@american.edu to check skybox availability.

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).