BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Defense was the story of American University volleyball's 3-1 win over Northern Kentucky on Friday at the Best Western Invitational, as the Eagles recorded a season-high 58 digs and 11 blocks to hold NKU to a .053 hitting percentage.
Bella Marrero led the way in the back with 20 digs and
Prinzez Zeck made seven total denials up front, while
Deniz Dakak logged her second straight double-double and
Elise Sterling stayed hot with 12 kills at a .524 clip.
Notable
- The Eagles are now 3-1 on the season, winning three matches in a row after a season-opening loss to Georgetown.
- Dakak's double-double came on 42 assists and 14 digs. This is her second game this season with 40 or more assists.
- Zeck's seven blocks mark the second straight match in which she's had five-plus, and it brings her Patriot League-leading total to 19.
- Marrero now leads the conference in digs with 61, bringing her average up to 3.59 per set.
- Sterling contributed on the defensive side as well, recording four blocks. She has hit over .300 in the last three contests, bringing her hitting percentage to .381 on a conference-leading 53 kills.
- Salme Hollas led the Eagles in kills today with 13, adding four blocks and three service aces.
- Carly Sciborski had her most efficient day of the season, putting down nine kills on a .412 hitting percentage.
- Freshman outside hitter Sam McMillan made her first career start and had five kills.
How it Happened
Set 1
- The Eagles pulled away midway through the first set, using a 4-0 run to make the score 17-13. Hollas and Sterling each notched a pair of kills to put the Eagles in front, and they comfortably collected a 25-21 win.
- Marrero had eight digs in the frame, and Olivia Miller made eight receptions with just two reception errors to complement the defensive effort.
- The Norse had just eight kills and hit -.022.
Set 2
- The second set was American's most dominant of the contest, holding NKU to a -0.59 hitting percentage.
- Tied 8-8, AU went on a 9-3 run to make the score 17-11. Hollas had three kills in a row along the stretch, and the Eagles totaled four blocks in the frame.
Set 3
- AU looked to be in control with a 6-1 lead, but the Norse played their best set of the day in a comeback effort.
- Trailing 20-19 late, NKU found five straight points. The Eagles didn't go quietly, cutting the lead to two on three straight tallies, but fell 25-23.
Set 4
- AU bounced back in the fourth set, shutting the door with their widest margin of victory on the day at 25-19.
- It was Sciborski leading the way this time with four kills and a block.
- The match ended on a service ace from Alex Ioannou, her third of the day.
Up Next
- The Eagles play again tonight against the tournament host school Bowling Green at 7 p.m. The match can be streamed on ESPN+.
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