Nov. 18, 2006

Patriot League Volleyball Championship Page

WASHINGTON - No. 1 American swept No. 3 Bucknell (30-22, 30-21, 30-20) to capture its sixth-straight Patriot League Volleyball Championship title on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Eagles' home court in Bender Arena.

The Eagles have won the Patriot League championship each year since they joined the Patriot League in 2001 and have only lost one match to a Patriot League opponent in that time.

American (25-6, 14-0 PL) put both sophomore Rubena Sukaj and freshman Ann Recht in double-digit kills with 18 and 10, respectively, while junior Tara Stradling recorded 11 digs. Sophomore Christina Nash put up a match-high 23 assists. The Eagles outhit the Bison .333 to .108.

Sukaj's 535 kills in 2006 rank her fifth on the Patriot League's single-season list, while senior Elizabeth Maloney ranks seventh all-time in Patriot League history with 205 career aces.

For Bucknell (20-11, 10-4 PL) junior Jenna Henderson led the Bison with eight kills and seven digs. Senior Kristen Sydlowski posted seven digs to push her Patriot League single-season record mark to 612.

Maloney earned Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player honors for the winning Eagles. Over two matches, Maloney had 15 kills, 12 digs, five blocks and three digs. On Friday she hit .636, while posting a .350 attack percentage on Saturday.

Members of the 2006 Patriot League All-Tournament team included: American's Rubena Sukaj, Ann Recht and Christina Nash, Bucknell's Shannon Pitsch and Kristen Sydlowski, Army's Jamie Clark and Lafayette's Veronica Canto-Ponce.

American will learn of its NCAA fate on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 3 p.m. on ESPNEWS. NCAA Tournament play begins Thursday, Nov. 30.

American's Elizabeth Maloney was named tournament MVP.

2006 Patriot League Championship All-Tournament Team
Rubena Sukaj, American
Ann Recht, American
Christina Nash, American
Shannon Pitsch, Bucknell
Kristen Sydlowski, Bucknell
Jamie Clark, Army
Veronica Canto-Ponce, Lafayette

2006 Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player
Elizabeth Maloney, American