WASHINGTON - It was a Senior Day sweep with postseason implications for American University volleyball as the Eagles defeated visiting Bucknell by scores of 25-13, 25-21 and 25-18. The win locks up the No. 3 seed for American in the Patriot League Tournament, and the Eagles will host No. 6 Loyola Maryland in a PL quarterfinal on Tuesday night, Nov. 14.

Notable

• As she has all year, grad student Zeynep Uzen led all players with 14 kills and hit .250 for the match.
• Freshman Holly Hopkins posted nine kills along with eight digs, and grad student Carlie Fikse hit .583 with eight kills and two blocks.
• Defensively, junior Bridget Javitch totaled a match-high 17 digs, while senior Rachael Bennett added 11.
• Setter Esma Sipahi added nine digs and two kills to 34 assists.

How it Happened

• American mostly cruised in the first and third sets, but had to fight back in the second.
• The Eagles jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first set and won it 25-13 on Uzen's fourth kill of the match.
• Bucknell committed eight first-set errors compared to just two for AU, and the Eagles also out-blocked the Bison 3-0.
• AU trailed 12-7 in the second set before three straight kills from Uzen started a 6-0 run that put the Eagles back on top, 13-12.
• The Bison never led again, but did come within two at 20-18. 
• AU hit .324 to Bucknell's .054 in the third set and was only challenged in the final stretch as Bucknell fought off three match points.

Up Next

• The Eagles will host Loyola Maryland in a Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The winner will advance to the semifinals to be hosted by No. 1 seed Colgate on Nov. 17.

Keep Up With Us

• For the latest on American University Volleyball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Volleyball), Facebook (/AU.Volleyball) and Instagram (@au_volleyball).