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American Volleyball Falls In NCAA Tournament
Eagles end season with 3-0 loss to Colorado in First Round

Game Stats | November 30, 2001

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The American volleyball team ended its stellar season with a 3-0 loss to Colorado in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday on the campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. Scores of the match were 30-25, 30-22 and 30-22 as the Patriot League Champion Eagles wrapped up their 2001 season with a 26-4 overall record.

The Buffaloes (19-10) hit a season-high .406 in the match to advance to the second round of the tournament and hand the Eagles just their second three-game loss of the season.

American started quickly in the match, getting out to a quick 9-4 lead in Game 1. Colorado would fight back behind Sara Villwock and tie the game at 12-12. American made another spurt to go up three at 17-14 and the teams played back and forth until the Buffaloes finally tied the game again at 22-22. With the score tied at 25 apiece, Colorado junior Kim Taskey served five straight points through two American timeouts to give the Buffaloes the first game.

The Eagles again started strong in Game 2, getting a quick 10-6 lead and also holding a four-point edge at 16-12 before the Buffs woke up. The Buffaloes then scored seven straight points to take contol of the match and never looked back en route to the game two victory.

Game three stayed tight early with the score tied at 6-6, but Colorado again broke free and ended the Eagles run at their first-ever NCAA Tournament win.

The Eagles wrap up an incredible 2001 season in which they they went 14-0 in their first season in the Patriot League and a perfect 12-0 at home in Bender Arena. The team has much to look forward to next season with all but one Eagle returning to the league championship squad.