Nov 6, 2008
AU Volleyball Extends Home Winning Streak to 17
Nov. 6, 2008
WASHINGTON - The American University volleyball team defeated North Carolina Central Thursday night, 3-0, extending the Eagles home winning streak to 17 matches. Senior Christina Nash recorded a double-double for the second straight game as she dished out 34 assists and dug 10 balls.
"It took us a little while to get going tonight but we rebounded and found our ryhthym," Head Coach Barry Goldberg said. "The play of our outsiders improved as the match went on. Angelina Waterman made a few plays for us off the bench and served well. This was a good match for us to get another win under our belt as we head out on the road this weekend looking to pick up a pair of conference wins."
American (19-7, 10-0) won in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-18, 25-13. In the first set, AU was able to get out to a comfortable four point lead early, 8-4. Ann Recht scored two kills and Ivana Cebakova and Rubena Sukaj each added an ace to help the Eagles to the lead. AU steadily built its lead to eight points, 17-9, as Cebakova capped off a 5-0 Eagles run with two more aces. After a four point NCCU run, American answered back with its own 4 point run with two kills from Sukaj and a Cassandra Ricketts ace to keep the margin at eight, 21-13. AU earned set point off an NCCU service error, 25-18. American tallied five aces in the set with three coming from the arm of Cebakova and one each from Sukaj and Ricketts.
The Eagles jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead to open the second set before NCCU battled its way back into the frame and tied the score at 9. American retook the lead, 10-9, and built up a four point lead, 15-11, off a Waterman ace. The two teams would then trade points back-and-forth until an NCCU service error started a 4-0 AU run. Waterman would add her second ace of the set to give the Eagles an opportunity at set point and Nash finished the frame with a quick kill, 25-18.
American wasted no time in the third set, rushing out to an eight point advantage, 13-5. AU used a 5-0 run powered by two Rebecca Heath kills to open its lead to 12, 19-7. The Eagles would then take match point by the same margin, 25-13, on a Recht kill. American hit a match-high .379 in the frame with four kills from both Sukaj and Recht and three from Heath.
The Eagles combined to hit .309 in the match as Nash dished out 34 assists and added 10 digs for her sixth double-double of the year. Sukaj led all scored with 16 kills. AU totaled nine aces in the win with four from Cebakova and three from Waterman.
American extended its home winning streak to 17 matches with the victory. The Eagles have not lost in Bender Arena since October of 2007.
AU will return to action tomorrow, Nov. 7, at Lehigh at 7 p.m. The Eagles will then travel to Lafayette to round out the weekend with a 2 p.m. match.
