Sept. 2, 2008

WASHINGTON - American University volleyball's Rubena Sukaj has been named the Patriot League Baden Player of the Week after leading her team to its second straight D.C. Volleyball Challenge title, conference officials announced Tuesday. The senior averaged 4.83 kills per game and recorded a .325 hitting percentage on her way to tournament MVP honors.

Sukaj opened the weekend with a 22 kill, 16 dig double-double in a 3-2 loss to George Washington on Friday. In the team's first match on Saturday, a 3-0 win against Georgetown, Sukaj recorded 14 kills, a .414 hitting percentage and six aces. Her first ace of the day marked a new AU record as she passed Jami Versteegen's, '90, career mark of 239. Sukaj would record one more ace in a 3-1 win over George Mason in the weekend finale and finished the tournament with 246 for her career. Against the Patriots the senior also scored 22 kills and dug 15 balls for her second double-double of the weekend.

Sukaj and the Eagles will return to action this weekend as they travel to College Station, Texas, to participate in the Texas A&M Classic. On Friday, Sept. 6, AU will play host Texas A&M at 7:30 p.m. in the Aggies home opener. Live streaming video of this match will be available through Aggies All*Access to all current subscribers of Eagle Vision All*Access. To sign up now, click here, or to visit Aggies All*Access, click here. On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Eagles will see action first against Brigham Young University at 10:30 a.m. and will return to the court later in the day against Siena at 5:30 p.m. Live stats for both of these matches will be available on the Texas A&M website by clicking here.