WASHINGTON – A five-match home stand will come to an end for the American University volleyball team on Friday night, as the Eagles host Colgate before hitting the road for the first time in three weeks to play Bucknell on Saturday in Lewisburg. AU has enjoyed the home stretch, winning each contest as a part of a seven-game winning streak.
Game Information
- When: Friday, Oct. 9 vs. Colgate at 6 p.m. | Saturday Oct. 10 at Bucknell at 4 p.m.
- Location: Washington, D.C., Meltzer Center, Barry Goldberg Court | Lewisburg, Pa., Davis Gym
- Tickets: AUEagles.com/Tickets
- Where to Watch: Both matches can be watched live on ESPN+.
- Live Stats: vs. Colgate | at Bucknell
- Talent: Ben Robertson and Ethan Jenkins
Series History
- American is 37-14 against Colgate all-time, the tightest PL series history that the program has. The teams split the series last year, each taking a victory on the opposing home floor. AU dropped a grueling five-set match in D.C., but responded with a four-set win in Hamilton.
- Prinzez Zeck was dominant against the Raiders in 2025 overall, totaling 29 kills on a .444 hitting percentage.
- AU is 54-6 all-time against Bucknell, sweeping the Bison in 2025.
What to Know About American: 11-4 (6-0)
- The Eagles most recently defeated Loyola Maryland and Navy last weekend, taking care of the Greyhounds in four sets and sweeping the Midshipmen.
- It was one of AU's most efficient two-game stretches of the year, hitting .315 on the weekend with 108 total kills. Driven by 93 assists from Deniz Dakak, the deep offensive charge was fronted by Elise Sterling, Salme Hollas, and Sophie Dufour, who each logged at least 25 points.
- Sterling struck 22 kills at a scalding .500 clip, bringing her season hitting percentage to .350 (fourth in the PL). Hollas had 25 kills and continues to play her part elsewhere as a six-rotation player, adding 14 digs.
- Dufour had her most impactful performance since returning from an ankle injury, getting back in the mix with 24 kills on a .333 percentage across both matches. The reigning PL Rookie of the Year had missed eight games from Sept. 4 to Sept. 25.
- Carly Sciborski and Zeck contributed to American's efficiency as well, with Sciborski hitting .438 (17 kills) and Zeck .324 (16 kills). Zeck leads AU in blocks, adding five on the weekend to bring her total to 65 (third in the PL). The senior opposite hitter Sciborski has provided attacking reliability, hitting .300 or better in eight of the last nine contests.
- Dakak averaged an outstanding 13.29 assists per set while directing AU's attack, earning her PL Player of the Week honors. Her 599 assists rank 17th in the country.
- Defensively, junior libero Bella Marrero is having an excellent year. She totaled 31 digs across the two matches—including 17 against Navy in just three sets, and she reached 1,000 in her career in the process. She earned PL Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second straight week, and her 248 digs rank third in the PL.
What to Know About Colgate: 7-8 (2-4)
- The Raiders are looking for their first win in October, coming into the weekend coming off two losses—a sweep at Lehigh on Oct. 2, and a back-and-forth five-set loss against Bucknell on Oct. 3.
- The Raider offense is dominated by a pair of junior outside hitters, Tianna Owens and Morgan Reese. Owens leads the team with 198 kills on the season, sitting at 3.47 kills per set, good for second in the Patriot League. Reese follows with 136 kills on the season (2.43/set).
- Colgate's setting is split between freshman Reagan Knipling and senior Ava Schabes. Knipling has tallied 231 assists (4.44/set) in her first collegiate season, while veteran Ava Schabes leads the Raiders in assists with 260 (4.64/set).
- Junior Hannah Langton leads the Raider defense with 262 digs, recently climbing to first in PL for digs per set (4.60). Freshman middle blocker Stella Labrecque leads the team in blocks with 57, averaging 1.16 per set (tied for second in the PL).
- Despite a current 2-4 conference standing, Colgate still has four Raiders sitting in a top three spot across five PL statistical leaderboards. Tianna Owens also counts for third in points per set (3.88), and leads in overall PL points (221).
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