Men's Volleyball falls in five-set heartbreaker against Merrimack

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's volleyball team put up a tremendous fight but fell 25-22, 21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-17 to Merrimack College on Tuesday, February 27.

AIC is now 1-9 on the season.

Alejandro Miranda had a huge hand in AIC's first five points with three kills and a block joined by Connor White, who also scored a kill in the run that forced an early Warriors timeout. Merrimack ultimately tied the set at 15-15, but Robert Santana started a 4-0 surge with a kill, and AIC held the Warriors off from there, ending the set on a shot to the floor by White.

The second set was back-and-forth, but Merrimack pulled away on a Reece Lindstrom ace to go up 17-13 and force an AIC timeout. The Yellow Jackets pulled to 20-20, but Merrimack scored four straight and took the set 25-21.

Merrimack surged ahead 14-10 in the third and it looked as if the Warriors would run off with the set. AIC clawed to close the gap, getting to 24-22, but Logan Whitaker ended the set before AIC could tie it.

Now facing a 2-1 deficit, AIC rallied. Several runs put AIC up 13-8 and forced a Warriors timeout, and though Merrimack came close, the Yellow Jackets did not relinquish the lead; up 22-21, AIC rattled off three straight, with Santana finishing a swing to force a fifth set.

As with the whole match, the fifth was a barn-burner; the score was tied 7-7 when a Merrimack block secured the barest lead possible for the mid-set side switch. Miranda then tied the set, and shortly after put AIC up 10-9. Two kills by Santana made it 12-10, and forced the Warriors to call a halt to play. They came out of the break and tied it, drawing an AIC timeout, and the teams traded points through 16-15, but Reece Lindstrom and Matthew Motes combined for a block at match point to end it.

Miranda racked up 19 kills in the match, followed closely by the 17 of Robert Santana; Isaiah Lee added nine. Miranda also took part in four blocks, while White made five to go with six kills on 13 swings. Michael Maldonado dished 43 assists and pulled out 12 digs. 

AIC continues its homestand Saturday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m. against Dominican.