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From our friends at AU Athletics...
Aleksandra Kazala was selected to repeat her selection as Patriot League Player of the Year, and to lead American University to another PL championship in preseason balloting of the league's coaches and sports information directors.
Kazala was one of three Eagles selected by the voters onto the Preseason All-PL Team. Senior setter Kennedy Etheridge and junior libero Kristen Largay were also picked to the seven-member squad.
Kazala, a senior outside hitter from Debica, Poland, was the choice of the voters as the Preseason Player of the Year. She began 2017 as the PL's preseason pick and went on to earn back-to-back Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honors.
Etheridge, a senior setter from Overland Park, Kan., was a second-team All-PL honoree last season. She also became the ninth Eagle in history to post 2,000 career assists.
Largay, a junior libero from Paradise Valley, Ariz., earned Libero of the Year honors in the league. She set a PL-era school record with 40 digs in a crucial match against Navy last season.
The Eagles earned 16 first-place votes en route to 118 points in the preseason poll. Lehigh got the other two first-place votes and was chosen to finish second with 103 points. Voters were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Last season's runner-up, Navy, was picked to finish third with 100 points, followed by Army West Point (86) and Colgate (82).
Bucknell (59), Loyola Maryland (37), Holy Cross (30) and Lafayette (23) were picked sixth through ninth.
American opens its 2018 season on Friday, August 24 when it hosts George Mason at 7 PM in the D.C. Volleyball Challenge. The Eagles host Stanford, the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in the preseason coaches poll, on Sunday, August 26 at 4 PM in the annual Bender Blue Out game.
Tickets to all 13 home games for the 2018 season are on sale now. Season tickets are $50, with general admission seating for individual games at $8. Email clawed@american.edu or call (202) 885-TIXX to purchase tickets.
