EMAIL THIS PAGE

American Volleyball Wins Patriot League Championship
Eagles outlast Army, 3-1, for NCAA bid

Game Stats | November 18, 2001

Sophomore Karla Kucerkova was voted the Patriot League Tournament MYP. She had 23 kills in the championship game.

WASHINGTON -- American played in its closest match against a Patriot League foe all season on Sunday but came out on top, defeating No. 3 seed Army, 3-1, in the Patriot League Volleyball Championship match. Scores of the match were 31-29, 30-25, 31-33 and 30-25 as the Eagles captured the title in their inaugural season in the league and earned the league’s automatic NCAA berth.

Sophomore Karla Kucerkova (Olomovc, Czech Republic), who was named the league’s Player of the Year on Friday, was voted the Tournament MVP and led the Eagles with 23 kills and 11 digs against the Black Knights. Sophomore Natalie Hand (Keizer, Ore./McNary) anchored the the AU defense with 12 digs as the team closely outhit its opponent, .282 to .233.

Senior Eneida Muzhaqi (Elbasan, Albania/Qemal Stafa) picked up 16 kills in her final game at Bender Arena.

Leah Shubin and Jen Wynn came up big on offense for Army, registering 17 and 12 kills, respectively, as the Black Knights were the only team able to win a single game against American in Bender Arena all season.

American prepares for its regular season closer on Nov. 24 at Temple and then awaits word from the NCAA on its first round tournament matchup.

Match Summary:
Kills: American 72, Army 58
Attack Percentage: American .282, Army .233
Blocks: American 4, Army 6
Service Aces: American 11, Army 9