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AU Volleyball Season Begins This Weekend at the D.C. Volleyball Challenge
Aug. 23, 2007 WASHINGTON - Week One Game Notes
The American University volleyball team kicks off its season this weekend, taking on local rivals in the D.C. Volleyball Challenge. The two day event pits the Eagles against Georgetown, George Mason and George Washington in a battle for Washington, D.C. bragging rights. The challenge begins Friday, Aug. 24, when AU takes on Georgetown at 5 p.m., hosted by George Mason University in the Linn Gymnasium. The Hoyas are returning seven letterwinners from last years' squad that finished the season 8-19. Last season, the Eagles won the only meeting between the two, also at the D.C. Volleyball Challenge, 3-1. AU holds a slight advantage in the all-time series record between the two schools at 10-7 and has won six of its last seven matches against the Hoyas. On the sidelines for Georgetown, in her second season as head coach, is former AU assistant Arlisa Hagan. On Saturday, Aug. 25th, the Eagles return home to Bender Arena for the first time. At 11 a.m. they will face off against GMU. The Patriots are coming off a 7-17 season and are returning nine letterwinners. Head Coach Pat Kendrick is also back for GMU in her 23rd season at the helm. Last years meeting, a 3-2 victory for GMU, marked the first time the two schools had met since the 2000 season when AU defeated the Patriots twice. In the challenge's final match American squares off against George Washington, at 7 p.m. The Colonials are coming off a 14-12 season, their first winning season since 2003. 12 letterwinners return to this years' squad led by Head Coach Jojit Coronel in his eighth season. In last years meeting GWU took home the victory despite falling behind early in the match. AU will look to even their series record with GWU which now stands at 4-5, with each team winning two of the last four matches played between the two. Be sure to join what promises to be a raucous crowd during Saturday night's match when AU hosts its inaugural volleyball "Bender Blue Out." The match, which hopes to set a new attendance record for Washington, D.C. women's collegiate volleyball, is sponsored by McDonald's of American University and Van Ness. Great give-aways and promotions are planned for the night, particularly for AU Blue Crew members who will be able to receive smoothies from Robek's of Tenleytown as well as other great prizes from AU Athletics' "Team AU" sponsors. The first 1,000 Blue Crew attendees on Saturday night will receive free stadium cups courtesy of game sponsor McDonald's and will also be able to pick up their Blue Crew t-shirts and ID cards for use throughout the year. American University athletics news is available via our weekly American Eagles E-News. Sign up for the free newsletter by clicking here.
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