Nov. 18, 2009

Center Valley, Pa.--For the first time since 2000, the Patriot League Tournament will not be played in Washington, D.C. Army secured the top seed and hosting duties, and the Black Knights will host American, Colgate and Lehigh.

Patriot League Volleyball Tournament Preview 11.18.09

2009 Patriot League Volleyball Tournament

Semifinal No. 1, No. 4 Lehigh at No. 1 Army
Saturday, 4 p.m., West Point, N.Y. 

Army and Lehigh will meet in the Patriot League Tournament for the fourth time, with Army holding a 2-1 edge. Both of Army’s tournament victories over the Mountain Hawks came in the semifinals, while Lehigh claimed its first League title in 1993 with a win over the Black Knights. Army swept the Mountain Hawks this season, winning 3-1 in both contests. Three-time Patriot League Setter of the Year Maureen Bannon dishes out 10.27 assists per set. She notched 11.21 assists per set in Patriot League play. Angelika Kopacz leads the Patriot League with 41 service aces, as the Mountain Hawks have a League-best 179 aces.

Semifinal No. 2, No. 3 Colgate vs. No. 2 American
Saturday, 6 p.m., West Point, N.Y. 

For the first time since 2006, American and Colgate will not meet for the Patriot League Championship. Instead, they will square off in the Patriot League semfinals. American defeated the Raiders in each of the past two title matches, the only two Patriot League Tournament meetings between the programs. American and Colgate split their regular season matches this year, with each team winning on the other’s home court by a 3-1 count. In Patriot League play, American hit a League-best .281 while limiting its foes to a League-low .130 hitting percentage. American senior Claire Recht has a League-best 103 blocks, including 60 in Patriot League contests. Colgate ranks in the top half of the Patriot League in every major statistical category. The Raiders are second in digs with 14.33 per set. Devon Applegate leads the League with 415 digs, including 221 in Patriot League matches.

Championship, Army/Lehigh vs. American/Colgate
Sunday, 4 p.m., West Point, N.Y. 

Army and American clashed in five straight Patriot League Tournaments, starting in 2001. American won all five meetings, including three championship duels. The teams split this year’s regular season series, with each team winning on its home court.

Army and Colgate have met nine times in the Patriot League Tournament, including four times in the Patriot League Championship. The two teams collided in each of the first five Patriot League Tournaments, including four of the first five title tilts. Colgate holds a 5-4 advantage over the Black Knights in the Patriot League Tournament, including semifinals wins in each of the past two seasons, though Army holds a 3-1 edge in championship matches. In the regular season, Army won both matches against the Raiders this season. 

American and Lehigh have only met once in the Patriot League Tournament. The Eagles defeated the Mountain Hawks in the 2002 championship. The two teams split their regular season matches this year, with each team winning at home. Lehigh’s win on Sept. 26 was its first over the Eagles since 1996. It was Lehigh’s first-ever Patriot League victory over American, which joined the League in 2001.

Despite participating in a combined 29 Patriot League Tournaments, Colgate and Lehigh have met just twice in tournament play, and never in a title match. Colgate has won both Patriot League Tournament meetings between the schools. The Raiders also won both regular season matches against the Mountain Hawks this fall.

Patriot League Notebook

Army To Host 2009 Patriot League Tournament
With a 12-2 Patriot League record, Army clinched the top seed and home court advantage in the 2009 Patriot League Volleyball Tournament. It marks the first time since 1994 that the Black Knights will serve as tournament hosts. It is also the first time since 2000 that American will not be the top seed. Since joining the Patriot League in 2001, the Eagles hosted the event every season from 2001 through 2008.

An Experienced Bunch
This year’s Patriot League Tournament teams are no strangers to the event, though some are reacquainting themselves. Army is in the Patriot League Tournament for the 17th time in program history. The Black Knights are tied with Bucknell for the most tournament appearances. Army has the longest active tournament participation streak, as the Black Knights have qualified for 11 straight Patriot League Tournaments. Lehigh has 15 Patriot League Tournament berths, though it is the first tournament appearance for the Mountain Hawks since 2003. Lehigh made the first 14 Patriot League Tournaments but missed the next five. Colgate has made the field for a 14th time, including three straight apperances. American has not missed a Patriot League Tournament since joining the League in 2001. The Eagles are in their ninth straight Patriot League Tournament.

Eagles Clinging To The Crown
American has never lost a Patriot League Tournament match. The Eagles are 16-0 in Patriot League Tournament competition since joining the League in 2001. American has won a League-best eight Patriot League Championships.

Fabulous Freshman
Army freshman outside hitter Ariana Mankus became the first Patriot Leaguer to earn Volleyball Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year recognition in the same season. Mankus has excelled from the moment she stepped on the court, leading the Patriot League in kills (386) and kills per set (3.64) while placing sixth in the League in both service aces (34) and hitting percentage (.289). She won five Rookie of the Week awards during the season, and also garnered a Player of the Week honor.

A New Class
Besides Army senior Maureen Bannon and Colgate junior Casey Ritt, every member of this season’s All-Patriot League Team is a first-time honoree. Bannon became the Patriot League’s eighth four-time All-Patriot League selection, while Ritt has been named to the All-Patriot League Team for the third time in her career.

The Threat of No. 3
In each of the last four Patriot League Tournaments, the No. 3 seed has advanced past the No. 2 seed in the semifinal round, though the third-seeded team has not won the tournament since 1999. The No. 3 seed has reached the final round 11 times, winning the championship on three occasions.

Keep Track of the Patriot League Through Social Media
In addition to visiting www.patriotleague.org, League fans and followers have plenty of new ways to stay updated and involved during the 2009 Patriot League Tournament. The Patriot League has accounts on Facebook and Twitter, and has now started a blog to give more information on the action on the field. All three accounts are accessible through the multimedia link at the right-hand sidebar on the front page of www.patriotleague.org.