Nov. 22, 2009

West Point, N.Y. - For the first time since 2000, American is not the Patriot League Volleyball champion. No. 1 seed and host Army ended the Eagles' eight-year run of titles in convincing fashion, earning a 3-0 sweep by scores of 25-16, 25-16 and 28-26 to claim its first League title since 1994.

The Black Knights (26-5) also won the Patriot League regular-season title with a 12-2 record. Army earns the Patriot League automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship, and will now wait to find out its opponent and destination when the selections are announced on Nov. 29.

Army senior Maureen Bannon earned the Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player honor. Bannon, who was named the League's Setter of the Year earlier in the week, dished out 15 assists in the title match. She was joined by freshmen teammates Ariana Mankus and Francine Vazquez on the All-Tournament Team, which also included American's Magdalena Tekiel and Claire Recht, Colgate's Meghan Fanta and Lehigh's Taylor Poole.

For more on the Patriot League Volleyball Championship, including box scores and recaps from both semifinal matches and the title contest, go the Championship page here

2009 Patriot League Volleyball Championship

No. 1 Army 3, No. 2 American 0 (25-16, 25-16, 28-26)
Box Score

West Point, N.Y. - In an anticipated matchup between the top team in the Patriot League this season and the eight-time defending champion, Army (26-5) brought upon a changing of the guard with a 3-0 sweep of American (18-12) on Sunday at Gillis Field House. American does not win the title for the first time after claiming the first eight crowns since entering the Patriot League in 2001, while Army wins its first League Championship since 1994.

The first set featured back-and-forth action with eight ties and four lead changes, with Army eventually pulling away for a 25-16 win. The Black Knights took the second set by the same score, but never faced a tie or deficit.

American fought like a champion in the final set, but the Black Knights could not be denied. In a set that featured 14 ties and four lead changes, Army prevailed, 28-26, to win the Patriot League Volleyball Championship.

The Black Knights tallied 17 kills, led by Mankus with seven and Vazquez with five. Bannon had 15 of the team's 16 assists, while Mankus also recorded seven digs. Army had a .400 or better attack percentage in each of the first two sets.

Tekiel led American with seven kills, while Krysta Cicala totaled 14 assists. Cynammon Burns had 11 digs in the match.

Patriot League All-Tournament Team

Meghan Fanta, Colgate
Taylor Poole, Lehigh
Magdalena Tekiel, American
Claire Recht, American
Ariana Mankus, Army
Francine Vasquez, Army
Maureen Bannon, Army

Most Valuable Player: Maureen Bannon, Army