WASHINGTON – The Eagles of American University volleyball sit at the top of the Patriot League as they return to D.C. for a weekend spent in the Meltzer Center, hosting Army on Friday night and Holy Cross on Saturday. AU is 9-0 in PL play, looking to remain undefeated in the season's final two-match slate at home.
Game Information
- When: Friday, Oct. 23 vs. Army at 6 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Holy Cross at 4 p.m.
- Location: Washington, D.C., Meltzer Center (Barry Goldberg Court)
- Tickets: AUEagles.com/Tickets
- Where to Watch: Both matches can be watched live on ESPN+
- Live Stats: HERE
- Talent: Ben Robertson and Sam Danai
Series History
- AU is 50-13 against Army all-time, and the Eagles swept the Black Knights in one of their best matches of the season on Sept. 19 at West Point.
- They hit .427 for their highest team percentage this year, led by nine from Salme Hollas and eight from Prinzez Zeck. Five different Eagles hit .400 or better in the dominant showing.
- American has lost just once to Holy Cross in 48 total matches, and the Crusaders nearly pulled off an upset in Worcester just over a month ago. The Eagles dropped the first two sets before storming all the way back to take the match in five.
- It was a career night for Carly Sciborski, who led the comeback effort with 16 kills at a .414 clip. Zeck also hit a scorching .750 with nine successful swings.
What to Know About American: 14-4 (9-0)
- American has won 10 in a row and remains on top of the Patriot League with an undefeated conference record, dropping just six sets in PL play so far. The team is ranked 59th in the NCAA's most recent RPI rankings.
- The Eagles are coming off a 3-1 win at Colgate, completing their first season sweep of any team this season. AU's middles were excellent in the win, as Elise Sterling and Prinzez Zeck combined for 21 kills and eight blocks.
- Sterling is American's leader in points with 242.5 on the year so far, averaging 3.62 per set. Elsewhere on the attacking side, Salme Hollas has logged 237 points with a team-leading 200 kills. The senior outside hitter from Estonia is a crucial six-rotation piece for the Eagles, adding 146 digs and 29 blocks.
- Junior setter Deniz Dakak has orchestrated AU's offense beautifully this season, dishing out a Patriot League-leading 10.33 assists per set. She's recorded eight double-doubles this season, adding 2.33 digs per set, and she is third on the team in blocks with 34 total.
- Sophomore outside hitter Sophie Dufour is working her way back into form in her return from injury, having missed eight matches from Sept. 4 to Sept. 19. The 2025 Rookie of the Year has played in six matches since, averaging 2.62 kills per set in that stretch.
- Zeck has been a force up front, sitting at third in the PL with 72 blocks to go with her 2.15 kills per set while hitting .326. She's contributed 184 points on the year.
- Sciborski has provided consistent production from the opposite side, hitting .300 or better in 12 matches with at least six kills.
- Junior libero Bella Marrero is having a fantastic year anchoring AU's defense, wearing the second-most digs in the PL with 289 and 4.31 per set. She's been named PL Defensive Player of the Week four times, the most of any player in the conference.
- American reached its 1,000th win in program history with a sweep of Bucknell on Saturday, Oct. 10. AU became the first 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 Tournament victories.
What to Know About Army: 10-8 (4-5)
- Army is sledding through a three-game losing streak, most recently falling to Navy in five sets last Saturday in Annapolis.
- Senior setter Juliette Myrick conducts Army's offense, sitting at third in assists in the PL (419) and assists per set (6.35). Junior Naomi Chinchar follows with 312 assists.
- The Black Knights have a young offense, with sophomore Kennedy Jones leading them with 173 kills and 2.95 points per set. Freshman Marlee Lightsey matches with 137 kills (2.49/set). Myrick also proves to be a threat as third on the team in kills (133, 2.02/set).
- Army's defense is good for fifth in digs in the PL with junior libero Nicole Stroud leading the way, averaging 4.13 per set.
- Head coach Alma Kovaci Lee is in her 20th season with the Black Knights.
What to Know About Holy Cross: 11-11 (4-5)
- Holy Cross heads into the weekend after back-to-back wins over Bucknell on Oct. 11 and Oct. 17, the first being a 3-1 win and the second a five-set thriller.
- Holy Cross has six different Crusaders on the PL leaderboards, most notably junior middle blocker Lacey Murphy has a conference-high 90 blocks, placing second in blocks per set (1.15). Sophomore middle blocker Kyla Harris follows with 57 blocks (1.08/set, sixth in PL).
- Matthew Cribbin leads the Crusaders in his second season as head coach.
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