Women's volleyball splits final day in Florida

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida - The American International College women's volleyball team rounded out the Hyatt Place Bash at the Beach on Saturday, September 11. The Yellow Jackets knocked off Emmanuel College 3-1 before falling to #18 Hillsdale College.

FAST FACTS:
Match 1:
Final Scores: AIC 3, Emmanuel 1
Record: AIC moves to 4-3, Emmanuel falls to 1-5

Match 2:
Final Scores: #18 Hillsdale 3, AIC 0
Record: AIC moves to 4-4, #18 Hillsdale moves to 5-2
Location: Rubin Arena West Palm Beach, Florida

STAT LEADERS:
Match 1:
AIC:
Andrea Serra-Rosa: 13 kills, six digs, 13.5 points
Dora Butkovic: 12 kills, 10 digs, two aces, 14.5 points
Mai-Lani Hernandez: 11 kills, seven blocks, 15 points
Naomi Eckert-Rivera: 40 assists, 10 digs
Amanda Rodriguez: 20 digs, four assists

Emmanuel:
Mia Cotton: 12 kills, three digs, three blocks
Alaina Emminger: 12 kills
Aleksandra Hamuda: 11 kills, four blocks
Gabrielle McGlamery: 30 assists, eight digs
Victoria Alexander: 15 digs

Match 2:
AIC:
Andrea Serra: 12 kills, eight digs, 12.5 points
Mai-Lani Hernandez: six kills, three digs, three blocks, 7.5 points
Amber Williams: six kills, six points
Naomi Eckert: 28 assists, 10 digs

#18 Hillsdale:
Karoline Shelton: 14 kills, nine digs
Allyssa Van Wienen: 11 kills, four digs, three blocks
Lindsey Mertz: 38 assists, seven digs
Alli Wiese: 15 digs

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Match 1:

• Despite playing the last match of the night on Friday, the Yellow Jackets were up and at it early with the first match on Saturday. Wide-eyed and ready to go, AIC took the first three points of the match. The Lions fought back to tie it at four before sophomore Mai-Lani Hernandez started a 7-2 run for the Yellow Jackets.
• The Lions stopped the bleeding with three points before AIC matched their run. AIC led 16-11 when the Lions started a run to tie the set. Knotted at 17 rookie Dora Butkovic sent a pass from sophomore Naomi Eckert down for a kill. During the 6-0 first year Amber Williams recorded three kills as AIC was two-point from taking the first set. The final play of the opening set came when Eckert recorded a kill.
• The Lions awoke from their Den in the second set as they turned the tables to take the frame 25-16.
• After giving up the first point of the next set, the Yellow Jackets dominated with 12-3 runs to take the eight-point lead. AIC continued to keep the Lions at arm's length in the set as they led 22-14 before scoring the next three points.
• Emmanuel knew they had their work cut out for them down 2-1. The two teams battled the entire set. AIC led 20-19 when the Lions started alternating points with the Yellow Jackets. The set was even at 23 when graduate Andrea Serra recorded her 13^th kill of the match to give AIC match point. After a few volleys on each side, Williams and Hernandez went up for a block and denied the Lions entry to the party to take the match 3-1.

Match 2

• The Yellow Jackets and #18 Chargers were neck-and-neck early in the first set. Tied at 14, the Chargers started to show more firepower and went on a 9-1 run before taking the set 25-18.
• AIC trailed 5-2 when Henandez notched another kill. After forcing a Charger error, junior Amanda Rodriguez nailed an ace to tie the set. Hillsdale answered with an 8-2 run to take the 13-7 lead.
• Trailing 20-13, freshman Paola Alejandra Soto-Burgos sparked a run with a kill. The Chargers committed another error that allowed rookie Nele Birmele to serve consecutive aces. The late push was not enough as the ranked Chargers took the set 25-18.
• The Yellow Jackets exited the huddle ready for the third set as they went to the early 5-1 lead. Number 18 Hillsdale charged back to tie the set at 10 before extending their lead to as many as six before taking set 25-18.

NEXT UP:

• AIC will head to Rochester, New York to take part in the Redhawks Tournament on Friday. September 17 and Saturday, September 18 hosted by Roberts Wesleyan College.