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American Volleyball Celebrates National Success
Eagles’ stellar season raises eyebrows across the nation

October 25, 2001

Head Coach Barry Goldberg has guided the American volleyball program to national recognition while celebrating a 17-2 record this season.

WASHINGTON -- The American University volleyball program’s success this season, with an overall record of 17-2 and a perfect Patriot League mark of 9-0, is earning nationwide respect as the team was ranked No. 1 in the country in service aces in the latest NCAA Statistics, released Oct. 21.

The Eagles are averaging 3.0 aces per game, placing them ahead of Georgia Southern’s mark of 2.85. American is also ranked sixth nationally in hitting percentage with a .312 average.

Among the team’s accomplishments this season are: its current 12-match winning streak; a 13-match home winning streak, dating back to Oct. 21, 2000; three Patriot League Player of the Week selections; one Patriot League Rookie of the Week nod; and its first-ever live televised match at Bender Arena (vs. Navy on Oct. 12).

Last year’s Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Coach of the Year, Barry Goldberg has led the Eagles to the top of the Patriot League standings, and virtually all league statistical categories, in the program’s first year in the league. Sophomore Karla Kucerkova (Olomovc, Czech Republic/Brno) has been the recipient of two league weekly honors and is atop the league in kills per game with a mark of 4.42 per game. Junior Judit Szekelyhidi (Ujszentivan, Hungary/Szegdian Club) is among the league leaders in blocks with 0.97 per game and was named the Patriot League Player of the Week on Oct. 22.

Freshman setter Sabrina Vasconcelos (Fortaleza, Brazil/Colegio Christus) leads the league with 11.28 assists per game and was a Rookie of the Week selection this season while classmate Natacha Cornaz (Lausanne, Switzerland/Gymnase Auguste Piccard) is seventh in the country in service aces with 43 this season.

American finished last season with a 26-4 overall mark,x but was as an outwardly depleted squad at the start of this season. With the loss of three All-CAA players to graduation, including the 2000 CAA Player of the Year, only two returning starters from last season and seven freshmen on its 11-slot roster, the Eagles have relied upon the leadership of its returning players as well as the experience, both nationally and internationally, of its younger ranks.

American University became a full member of the Patriot League on July 1 after competing in the Colonial Athletic Association since the 1985-86 academic year. The University, founded in 1893, fields a 19-sport NCAA Division I athletics program, featuring 10 women’s sports and nine for men.