Nov. 14, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - Army secured the regular-season title in Patriot League Volleyball on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Lehigh, and with it the Black Knights earn the No. 1 seed in next week's Patriot League Tournament and will host the event for the first time since 1994. No. 2 seed American, No. 3 Colgate and No. 4 Lehigh join Army in the field.

Lehigh makes the field for the first time since 2003, while the other three teams all appeared last year.

Army actually secured the No. 1 seed via Colgate's 3-0 win over Navy on Saturday, but the Black Knights solidified sole possession of first place in the standings by beating Lehigh later in the evening to finish at 12-2 in League play. American beat Bucknell, 3-1, as the Eagles and Raiders ended up tied for second in the standings with an 11-3 Patriot League record. The Eagles claimed the No. 2 seed by virtue of holding a better overall set record in League play than the Raiders. Lehigh finished the Patriot League schedule with a 7-7 mark to claim fourth place and the final Tournament spot.

The dates and times have already been set for next week's Patriot League Tournament at Army. The Black Knights and Lehigh will square off in the first semifinal at 4 p.m. on Saturday, followed by American facing Colgate at 6 p.m. The winners face off in Sunday's Patriot League Championship at 4 p.m., with the League champion earning the automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

American has won the last eight Patriot League titles since joining the League in 2001. Army has tied Bucknell for the most all-time Patriot League Tournament appearances with 17, and the Black Knights are in the field for the 11th year in a row. Army has not hosted a Patriot League Tournament match since 1994, which is the last time the Black Knights won the tournament. Lehigh is in its 15th Tournament, and first since making the first 14 events from 1990-2003. Colgate makes the field for the 14th time, while American is in its ninth League Tournament.