The UMBC volleyball squad plays closer to home when they face the American Eagles in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Sept. 2. The match gets underway at Bender Arena at 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.

RETRIEVER REVIEW
·       UMBC (1-2) stunned Big East Conference member Villanova in four sets in USC's Cardinal and Gold Classic to open the Kasey Crider era in grand fashion. The Retrievers had a set point in the second set versus USC, but fell to the Trojans and defending Patriot League champion Colgate Raiders in three sets.
·       Sophomore outside hitter Mia Bilusic (Zagreb, Croatia) was named to the All-Tournament Team in Los Angeles. She averaged 4.8 kills per set for the Retrievers.
·       Freshman setter Serin Maden (Ankara, Turkey) was named the America East Setter of the Week, the Conference announced on Tuesday. Maden averaged a league-best 10.2 assists per set, including 47 assists in the four-set win over Villanova. She also recorded five total blocks on the weekend.  
 
OTHER STAT LEADERS
·       Junior Aysia Miller (Mililani, Hawaii) averaged 3.9 digs per set at USC as she debuted as libero. Miller opened her UMBC as the team's primary setter in the spring of 2021 and competed as an outside hitter last fall.
·       Senior outside hitter Kamani Conteh (New Castle, Del.) amassed 3.7 kills per set and led the regulars with a hitting mark of .239.

A GLANCE AT THE EAGLES
·       Perennial power American is off to a blistering start, dropping just one set in victories over local foes Georgetown, George Mason and GW.
·       American went 19-14 last year and fell to Colgate in the Patriot League title match. The Eagles have still won 16 of the last 20 Patriot League titles.
·       Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year Zeynep Uzen wasted no time showing why, posting 18 kills, five digs and four blocks in leading American to the 3-0 sweep at Georgetown in the season opener. 

THE ALL-TIME SERIES
·       UMBC is 3-21 all-time versus American and the Eagles have won 11 consecutive match-ups. UMBC's last victory occurred in 1996.   
·       American won a hard-fought four-setter in D.C. last September, prevailing 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-20 to capture the non-conference match. Conteh led the Retrievers with 13 kills.

UP NEXT
·       UMBC opens the home slate and continues its rigorous non-conference schedule when they face Delaware at the Chesapeake Arena on Sunday, Sept. 4. The match gets underway at 2:00 p.m.