Volleyball Captures AU Classic Title with 3-0 Rout of Manhattan

Sept. 2, 2006

Box Score

WASHINGTON - Mixing a potent attack with an equally impressive defensive effort, the American University women's volleyball team swept the Manhattan Jaspers 3-0 Saturday night to win the AU Classic and improve to 4-2 in 2006. Sophomore Rubena Sukaj (Tirana, Albania/Asim Vokshi) had a match-high 13 kills and was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player.

The Eagles cruised in the first two games, hitting above .370 to win 30-21 and 30-16. In the third game, AU's attack stumbled, but led by Sukaj's five kills and two service aces, the team held on for the 30-26 win.

American dominated virtually every statistical category, racking up 45 kills, 42 assists, 12 service aces, 51 digs and nine total team blocks. Freshmen Maile Krauss (Palo Alto, Calif./Henry M. Gunn) and Ivana Cebakova (Brno, Czech Republic/Ludvika Danka) contributed in every game with match-highs of 35 assists and 15 digs, respectively. Senior Elizabeth Maloney (Toronto, Ontario/Richview C.I.) led the team in hitting percentage, killing 11 attacks at a .455 clip.

Tournament MVP Sukaj averaged 4.78 kills per game at a .283 percentage along with .89 service aces per game in the team's three matches. All-Tournament selection Chelsa Brooks (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) averaged 2.88 kills per game at a .388 clip while blocking an average of 1.5 per game. Cebakova, American's other All-Tournament selection, averaged 4.44 digs per game and had five service aces.

The Eagles hit the road next weekend, traveling to Cal-Berkeley to face off against top teams Cal, Colorado State and Pepperdine.