WASHINGTON – The American University volleyball team continues its home stand this weekend, hosting Loyola Maryland and Navy in back-to-back days. The Eagles have won five matches in a row, and look to continue their undefeated start to Patriot League play.
Game Information
- When: Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. Loyola Maryland at 4 p.m. | Sunday, Oct. 4 vs. Navy at 2 p.m.
- Location: Meltzer Center, Barry Goldberg Court
- Tickets: AUEagles.com/Tickets
- Where to Watch: Both matches can be watched live on ESPN+.
- Live Stats: HERE
- Talent: Dan Laing and Ethan Jenkins
Series History
- AU is 41-6 against Loyola all-time, sweeping the Greyhounds in both 2025 matchups. In the home contest, Prinzez Zeck hit .600 with nine kills and three blocks.
- The Eagles last fell to Loyola in 2024, a four-set defeat in D.C.
- American is 55-10 against Navy all-time, sweeping the Midshipmen on three occasions last season. At home last year, the Eagles hit .293 and won each set by at least five points.
- AU's last loss to Navy also came in 2024 in D.C., dropping the match in five sets.
What to Know about American: 9-4 (4-0)
- American has won five matches in a row, coming off wins in back-to-back days over Lehigh and Lafayette last weekend.
- It was a vigorous five-set fight against the Mountain Hawks, with the two teams trading each frame. Bella Marrero's defensive effort was crucial for the Eagles, taking on 29 digs to help keep several grueling points alive. She added seven assists for one of her best performances of the season, earning the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts.
- Salme Hollas had 17 kills, and Elise Sterling notched 14 on a .394 hitting percentage to lead the offensive attack.
- Despite sweeping Lafayette, the result did not come easy for AU. The Leopards forced extra points in sets two and three (30-28, and 31-29), and the Eagles faced set point in both of them.
- Hollas was all over the floor, putting in her best all-around showing of the year so far. She totaled 16 kills and 11 digs for her second double-double of the season, striking .371 on the night. She now leads the team in kills with 148 on the year.
- Sterling stayed hot with 11 kills at a scorching .688 clip. She is second on the team in kills with 136, and leads the team in hitting percentage at .331 (minimum 100 attempts).
- Prinzez Zeck has been strong up front along with Sterling, leading the team with 56 blocks in addition to her 103 kills. She's hitting .330 on the year so far.
- Senior opposite hitter Carly Sciborski has stepped up on the attacking side of the ball, logging the third-most kills on the team with 106 while hitting .320. She's found a groove lately, swinging .300 or better in seven straight matches.
- AU has at least one player in the top five of six major stat categories in the Patriot League: Deniz Dakak's 506 assists lead the conference by nearly 200, Sterling is fourth in hitting percentage (.331), Hollas is fifth in kills (148), Zeck is third in blocks (56), Marrero is third in digs (217), and Sterling and Hollas are third (180) and fifth (177) in points, respectively.
- American is approaching its 1,000th win as a program, currently sitting at 996. AU will be the first Patriot League volleyball program to reach the milestone, with its rich history of success that includes five 30-win seasons, 19 conference titles, and three NCAA victories.
What to Know About Loyola: 4-9 (2-2)
- Loyola comes into the weekend off two five-set matches against Lehigh (09/26) and Coppin State (09/29), falling to the Eagles but taking down the Mountain Hawks in a thriller.
- The team's offense is led by a pair of setters: Junior Madison Monahan (218 assists, 4.45/set) in her first year with Loyola, and senior Gabi Verdicchio (210 assists, 4.29/set). Both have appeared in every match this season.
- The Greyhounds add a steady attacking unit, with senior outside hitters Morgan Crawford (128 kills, 2.82 points/set) and Ava Nepkin (122 kills, 2.79 points/set) leading the way, followed by sophomore middle blocker Elsie Afful with 92 kills and 0.95 blocks/set (ninth in the Patriot League), respectively.
- Sophomore libero Addie Huber ignites the back row as the Greyhound's starting libero, leading the Patriot League in aces (26, 0.53/set) and places fifth in the PL with 199 digs (4.06/set).
- Earlier this season, the Greyhounds earned its first conference sweep this season against Bucknell on Sept. 25.
- Loyola is led by Head Coach Alija Pittenger in her 11th season with the Greyhounds.
What to Know About Navy: 6-4 (4-0)
- Navy enters the weekend as the only other undefeated team in Patriot League play, securing two four-set wins over Lafayette (09/25) and Bucknell (09/26).
- The Midshipmen are led by junior outside hitter Eike Farrah, who leads the Patriot League in kills per set (3.61) and totals 159 on the season. She recently posted back-to-back double-doubles to secure wins over Lafayette and Bucknell.
- Following Farrah offensively on the opposite pin is sophomore right side Ellen Gundlach, who has totaled 109 kills (2.41/set). Gundlach was recently named the Patriot League Player of the Week, finishing the past weekend with 36 kills on a .452 hitting percentage.
- Directing the offense is junior setter Isa Boyd, notching 248 assists on the season, good for fourth in the conference (5.51/set).
- The Midshipmen defense is led by junior Amara Chambers, who has 172 digs in her second season as starting libero. Freshman middle blocker Avery Maddux cleans up at the net with 1.18 blocks/set, fourth in the PL.
- Head Coach for the Midshipmen is Paco Labrador in his ninth season.
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