Dec. 4, 2008

Center Valley, Pa.--Eight-time Patriot League champion American University will host first and second round matches in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, beginning Friday evening at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. American will become the first Patriot League school to host an NCAA Volleyball Tournament match. Action will begin Friday when 11th-seeded Oregon meets Delware. The Eagles will then square off against Atlantic Coast Conference co-champion North Carolina at 7 p.m. The two winners will meet Saturday at 6 p.m.

Patriot League Volleyball Release 12.04.08

American to Host NCAA Tournament Matches

American University will serve as a first and second round host for the 2008 NCAA Volleyball Tournament, as announced Sunday night by the NCAA. The Eagles will host the first two rounds starting Friday and Saturday, becoming the first Patriot League team to host an NCAA Volleyball Tournament match. American, which has won eight consecutive Patriot League championships, will open its 11th NCAA tournament against Atlantic Coast Conference co-champion North Carolina on Friday.

American (24-8) became the first Patriot League program to force a fifth set in an NCAA Tournament match a year ago, sending Duke into the deciding set before falling 3-2. The Eagles have appeared in eight straight NCAA tournaments. American last met the Tar Heels in the 2007 Carolina Classic, with North Carolina claiming a 3-2 win. North Carolina holds a 5-0 advantage in the all-time series. The Tar Heels will be making their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2005.

In Friday's other match, 11th-seeded Oregon (23-8) will take on Delaware (19-15). The Ducks will be making their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and their 16th overall. Oregon finished fourth in the Pac-10 Conference with an 11-7 mark. The Blue Hens have won seven of their past eight matches, including three straight in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, to advance to their second straight NCAA tournament.

American holds a 7-2 series lead over Delaware. The Eagles have never faced Oregon. American has never played an NCAA Tournament match against any of the three teams in its opening bracket.

American is led by three-time Patriot League Player of the Year Rubena Sukaj. This season, the senior outside hitter set both the Patriot League and AU career records for kills (2,039) and aces (291) and ranks 12th in the NCAA in aces per set (0.51) and 17th in kills per set (4.23). In the Patriot League, Sukaj ranks first in kills per set, is second in aces per set and ninth in hitting percentage (.285). She was named Patriot League Tournament MVP after compiling 40 kills, 13 digs, seven blocks and two aces in two matches. Sukaj was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II First Team for the second-consecutive season earlier this year and is a four-time All-PL Selection, three-time PL Academic Honor Roll selection and two-time AVCA All-America Honorable Mention.

In addition to Sukaj, three other players on head coach Barry Goldberg's squad earned major awards from the Patriot League. Junior defensive specialist Ivana Cebakova earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year. Senior setter Christina Nash was named Setter of the Year for the second time in her career. Freshman Rebecca Heath was tabbed Rookie of the Year.

Patriot League Notebook

Eight Years of American Rule

Despite a spirited effort by third-seeded Colgate, American University extended its Patriot League Championship streak to eight years. Since joining the Patriot League, American has not lost a Patriot League Tournament match. The Eagles have won eight straight titles dating back to 2001, all under the direction of Barry Goldberg. American has lost just three Patriot League matches in its eight-year run.

Classroom Aces

Patriot League volleyball players have succeeded both on the court and off. Army's Briana Stremick, the 2008 Patriot League Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year, was a candidate for a Rhodes Scholarship. Stremick was one of two Army players who were named CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans, joining fellow-senior Rachael Breinling as a 2008 honoree. Five Patriot League volleyball student-athletes were named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team. Besides Breinling and Stremick, the other honorees included: Army's Jamie Clark, Army's Elizabeth Lazzari and Bucknell's Shannon Pitsch.

Three Times For The Second Time

American University senior Rubena Sukaj became the second three-time Player of the Year in Patriot League history this year. Previously, American standout Karla Kucerkova was the only three-time winner. Kucerkova claimed the award three times from 2001 to 2003.

Winning the Lottery

American University won the volleyball lottery when Rubena Sukaj's family won the United States Green Card Lottery. Each year, 50,000 applicants, their spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 receive a chance to earn permanent residence in the U.S. through the computerized Green Card Lottery system. Four years ago, Sukaj's mother won the lottery, opening the door for Rubena to attend college in the United States.

Youth Has Served Them Well

Though Army head coach Alma Kovaci is just 29 years old, she is not the youngest person to win Patriot League Coach of the Year. That honor goes to last year's winner. Colgat's Ryan Baker won the award at the age of 26.The League's young coaches are balanced by a group of veterans. Of the four coaches who have been named Patriot League Coach of the Year multiple times, two are still active. Bucknell's Cindy Opalski has claimed the trophy a record three times. American head coach Barry Goldberg has won twice.

Patriot League Championship Recap

Top-seeded American claimed its eighth straight Patriot League Volleyball Chammpionship, but not without a fight from third-seeded Colgate. The Eagles posted a three-set victory over the Raiders, 25-13, 25-21, 26-28, an 25-19. American has not lost a Patriot League Tournament match since joining the League in 2001. The Eagles have now beaten the Raiders in consecutive championship matches.

American led the first set wire to wire. The Eagles built an early 4-0 advantage, thanks to three blocks. American extended its lead to 16-6 with another run, culminated by a kill by Claire Recht. Colgate climbed back into contention, scoring six of the next eight points, including four straight to start the streak. American responded with a 7-1 streak to close the opening set, giving the Eagles a 1-0 set advantage. The Eagles recorded a robust .414 hitting percentage in the opening frame, compared to the Raiders' .083 first-set hitting percentage.

Colgate began the second set with momentum on its side. The Raiders scored the first two points and maintained the lead until three straight kills by American senior Rubena Sukaj gave the Eagles a 12-11 advantage. The teams exchanged leads three more times before Sukaj recorded another kill to give American a 20-19 advantage, a lead the Eagles did not relinquish. Sukaj, who has been named Patriot League Player of the Year three times, recorded eight kills in the second set alone. She was matched by Colgate senior Katrina Zawojski, who also notched eight second-set kills.

Despite falling behind early, Colgate became just the third Patriot League team to take a set from American this season, downing the Eagles 28-26 in the third set. After trailing 10-5, Colgate rattled off seven straight points to take their first lead of the set. A kill by Logan Keala put the Raiders at match point, 24-20. American rallied back with four straight points to tie the set. The teams exchanged points until Zawojski ended the set with her 13th kill of the match. The Raiders out-hit the Eagles in the third set, .350 to .267.

Neither team established a lead larger than three points in the fourth set until a kill by Claire Recht gave American a 18-14 lead. After a Colgate timeout, the Raiders scored the next three points, but could not get any closer. Sukaj ended the match by firing her 29th kill of match down the right side. The Eagles hit a sizzling .593 in the final set to claim their eighth consecutive Patriot League title. For the match, American out-hit Colgate, .357 to .203.

Sukaj earned Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player honors with 40 kills, 13 digs, seven blocks and two aces over two matches. She hit .422 for the weekend.

American placed three student-athletes on the 2008 Patriot League All-Tournament Team, including Sukaj, Christina Nash and Ivana Cebakova. Others on the all-tournament team were Colgate's Jackie Adlam and Zavojski, Army's Elizabeth Lazzari and Bucknell's Shannon Pitsch