Washington, D.C. –Visiting UMBC dropped a tight match with American University, falling to the Eagles in four sets at Bender Arena.
The Retrievers (1-7) started brightly, winning the first set, 25-19, and stayed right with AU (4-3) in the final three sets. But the hosts prevailed, 25-22, 25-23, 25-20 to capture the non-conference match.
UMBC sophomore middle hitter Beste Ayhan (Istanbul, Turkey) continued her outstanding play, recording 10 kills, hitting a team-best 38.6 percent and registering a team-high three blocks.
Junior outside hitter Kamani Conteh (New Castle, Del.) led the Retrievers with 13 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Retrievers turned a 6-4 deficit into a 12-7 advantage early in the first set and American never closed to within two points for the remainder of the set.
- The second set featured nine ties, including the final one at 17-17. But AU reeled off four consecutive points and scored the final two of the set to prevail, 25-22.
- American jumped out to a 16-11 third set advantage, but a block and an ace by Ayhan sparked a 6-1 run by UMBC. The Retrievers continued to rally and snuck in front, 22-21, on a put-away by freshman outside hitter Mila Ilieva (Vidin, Bulgaria). AU scored two straight, but a Conteh kill re-tied the score at 23-all. But back-to-back kills by the Eagles' Zeynep Uzen halted the rally and gave American a 2-1 lead.
- Conteh recorded kills to knot the fourth set at 14 and 15, but AU outscored UMBC, 10-5, down the stretch to complete the 3-1 victory.
STAT CHECK
- Sophomore setter Aysia Miller (Mililani, Hawaii) led all players with 35 assists in the four-set match.
- Graduate student libero Loren Teter (Redondo Beach, Calif.) tied for match-high digs by recording 18.
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.
