WASHINGTON – A sweep of Army did not come easy for the American University volleyball team on Friday night, as the match saw several long rallies and required 49 kills from the Eagles on a .333 hitting percentage. Behind
Deniz Dakak's 39 assists and 11 digs,
Sophie Dufour and
Carly Sciborski combined for 21 kills without an error to lead a resilient attacking performance.
Notable
- Dufour totaled 11 kills and hit .478 for her best offensive performance of the season so far. The sophomore outside hitter returned from injury on Sept. 25 after missing eight matches.
- Sciborski followed with 10 kills at a scorching .556 clip, adding two blocks. The senior opposite continues her outstanding season, hitting over .400 with at least seven kills for a sixth time.
- Dakak logged her ninth double-double, tacking on a block and three service aces.
- Salme Hollas added nine kills from the outside, while Elise Sterling and Prinzez Zeck were excellent in the middle. Each of them went for eight kills, with Zeck contributing a team-high four blocks as well.
- OIivia Miller had her busiest night of the season on the defensive end, recording 13 digs. Bella Marrero added 12 of her own, along with six assists.
- The Eagles have now won 11 in a row, and they remain undefeated in the Patriot League at 10-0.
How it Happened
Set 1: American 25, Army 21
- It was a tight first set, with neither team winning by more than two before being tied 15-15 at the media timeout.
- The Eagles separated themselves out of the break, taking off on a 7-0 run that saw three kills from Sterling and two from Hollas.
- The set ended with successful swings from Dufour and Zeck.
Set 2: American 25, Army 22
- AU found its groove in the second frame, hitting .436 as a team with 19 kills. The Eagles needed each one, as Army hit .333 and led late.
- Down 19-18, American ended the set on a 7-3 run. Sciborski struck three kills, and Hollas and Zeck each had one on the spurt.
- Sciborski, Dufour, and Zeck combined for 15 kills in the stanza, with Sciborski's six topping the group.
Set 3: American 25, Army 23
- The Black Knights had their largest lead of the day at 15-10 in the third set, and the Eagles dug deep to pull out the sweep.
- Trailing 15-10, AU took seven of the next nine points to tie the score 17-17. The two teams traded points from there, eventually knotting up again at 21-21.
- To close out the set and the match, Dakak came up with a dump kill, Dufour put two down, and Sciborski applied the finishing touches with her 10th tally of the match.
Up Next
- The Eagles remain at home tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 24 to face Holy Cross at 4 p.m.
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