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Eagles Roll with 3-2 Victory over Blue Devils
AU makes it six straight in first game of Duke Classic

September 13, 2002 | Stats

Karla Kucerkova had game-highs of 19 kills and 21 digs.

DURHAM, N.C. — After taking two of first three games, the American University volleyball team recovered from a difficult fourth game to beat the previously undefeated hosting Blue Devils Friday night in the opening night of the Duke Classic by scores of 30-21, 27-30, 30-21, 21-30, 15-11. The win gave the Eagles their sixth straight of the season after dropping the first three for a 6-3 record.

Junior Karla Kucerkova (Olomouc, Czech Republic/Brno) had game-highs of 19 kills and 21 digs. Sophomore Courtney Mulford (San Diego, Calif./La Costa Canyon) set a new career high with 59 assists as she collected five kills and five digs.

Sophomore Natacha Cornaz (Lausanne, Switzerland/Gymnase Auguste Piccard) chipped in with 16 kills and senior Judit Szekelyhidi (Ujszentivan, Hungary/Szegedian Club) was solid with 15 kills and 13 blocks. Freshman Cutrina Biddulph (Reseda, Calif./Granada Hills) has 11 kills.

Also coming up big for the Eagles was junior libero Natalie Hand (Keizer, Ore./McNary), who retrieved 18 digs on the night.

American had a .305 hitting percentage compared with Duke's .232.

Playing well for the Blue Devils was Stephanie Istvan with 54 assists. Four players reached double digits in kills.

American University will face No. 12 Wisconsin at 12:30 p.m. and No. 18 UC-Santa Barbara at 5 p.m. Saturday in the second day of the Duke Classic.

Match Summary
Kills: American 73; Duke 69
Hitting Percentage: American .305; Duke .232