The AU Volleyball squad started the second half of the Patriot League season on the same strong footing that it started the first - by sweeping Navy, 3-0, on Thursday night in Bender Arena.
Senior Erin Algaier led the Eagles with 18 kills, while junior Cutrina Biddulph produced another strong effort, contributing 14 kills in the win.
It was the 56th straight PL victory for the Eagles. That streak spans the past three-plus seasons.
Having already played six of their first eight PL matches on the road, the Eagles will have the luxury of defending Bender Arena down the stretch. For senior setter Courtney Mulford, it's an advantage the Eagles want to exploit to the maximum.
"It's important to establish that it will be tough to come play on our home court," said Mulford. "They're entering our territory now."
During Game 1 on Thursday night, however, the Eagles were doing more scrambling than defending. "The first game was definitely a little shaky," said Mulford.
The Eagles struggled with just a .182 percentage in the first game. Algaier. She had a talk with herself after both her and the team's early woes.
"I kind of realized things weren't going well, but I said to myself, 'This is my senior year and I'm going to start the game over mentally,'" Algaier said. "I just told myself to take it slow."
Defense made up for the Eagles' lack of hitting power in Game 1, as the team stifled Navy into a .094 hitting percentage. The Eagles staved off two game points and went on to a 33-31 victory.
The next two games were dominated by a much more balanced and potent Eagles offense. Mulford, whom Eagles coach Barry Goldberg said is the key to the Eagles offense, ran the offense smoothly to the middle - and outside-hitting presences of Algaier, Biddulph and freshman Chelsa Brooks.
"As a setter, my first job is to spread the offense, keep the ball moving and keep the other side on their toes," said Mulford.
While the Navy defense focused on Biddulph, the PL leader in kills, Algaier created problems from all sides of the court. "It really helps playing alongside Cutrina because a lot of teams see her play and really focus on stopping her," said Algaier.
In this match, Navy's blockers consistently went with Biddulph, which freed Algaier up for her big night. Brooks added six kills of her own. Biddulph led the Eagles with ten defensive digs, while senior Sabrina Vasconcelos and sophomore Liz Maloney both contributed six.
The Eagles host Morgan State on Tuesday in Bender Arena at 7 p.m. before making their final PL road trip of the season next weekend against Holy Cross and Army. The Eagles' final four matches of the PL regular season will be at home.
