After seven matches in Florida and Texas to open the 2021 season, the UMBC volleyball team (1-6) returns to the DMV and faces American University at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C, on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

RETRIEVER REVIEW

• After a pair of five-set losses on the season's opening weekend, UMBC earned its first victory in similar fashion versus UT-Rio Grande Valley last Thursday. The Retrievers took the first two sets, let a late third set lead slip away, but rallied in the fifth for a 15-11 triumph. Freshman Mia Bulusic (Zagreb, Croatia) contributed her first career double-double (18 kills, 13 digs) to lead the way. 

• A depleted UMBC side played tough against Nicholls State and host TCU, but fell, 3-1, to NSU and 3-0 to the Horned Frogs on Friday.  

HONORED

• Sophomore middle blocker Beste Ayhan (Istanbul, Turkey) earned All-Tournament Team honors at TCU's Cowtown Classic. Ayhan amassed 15 kills and committed only one error in three matches and totaled 5.5 blocks in Texas.  

• A week ago, graduate student Loren Teter (Redondo Beach, Calif.) was named America East Defensive Specialist of the Week after her efforts in Florida. Teter averaged 4.75 digs per set during the Retrievers opening weekend. Teter had at least ten digs in three of the four games for the Retrievers that weekend, including a 32-dig performance in a 3-2 loss to Rutgers on Saturday. She was named to the Homewood Suites FGCU Invitational All-Tournament Team.  

OTHER STAT LEADERS 

• Junior Kamani Conteh (New Castle, Del.) took advantage of her increased role in Texas and averaged 11.5 kills per set in matches versus Nicholls State and TCU. She leads the Retrievers with 2.4 kills per set.

• Teter continued her steady play in Texas and averages 4.1 digs per set, while sophomore Aysia Miller (Mililani, Hawaii) is dishing out 7.6 assists per set. 

A GLANCE AT AMERICAN  

• The Eagles are off to a 3-3 start, going 2-1 versus area rivals Georgetown (3-2 W), George Mason (3-1 L) and GW (3-1 W) before just losing two of three at a tournament at UNC-Greensboro.

• The pernennial Patriot League power only played eight matches (4-4) in the spring and fell to Colgate, 3-2, in the PL semifinals. 

• Junior and 2019 PL Rookie of the Year Zeynep Uzen leads AU with 3.21 kills per set. Defensively, graduate student libero Chiara Bosetti paces the Eagles with 4.46 digs per set and sophomore Allie Burke is averaging 0.87 blocks per set. 

• American has won 16 of 19 Patriot League titles. 

• UMBC is 3-20 all-time versus American and the Eagles have won ten consecutive match-ups. The programs have not met since 2015, a 3-0 AU victory, and UMBC's last victory occurred in 1996.   

UP NEXT

UMBC makes their first appearance in the friendly atmosphere of Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 10-11. The Retrievers will face Quinnipiac (1:00), and Howard (7:00 p.m.) on Friday and Maryland on Saturday (2:00 p.m.) in the Charm City Challenge, presented by Sir Speedy.