Women's Volleyball takes East Region Clash; Serra Rosa sets program kills record

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College women's volleyball team played host to the 2022 International Volleyball Hall of Fame's East Region Clash on September 9-10, and the Yellow Jackets dominated, ending as the only team to go 4-0 on the weekend with wins against the University of Bridgeport, Daemen University, Molloy University, and Saint Anselm College.

AIC's record stands at 10-1 on the season.

The Yellow Jackets opened Friday's action against Bridgeport, and the outcome was never in doubt. AIC did not have a hitting error until the third set, and blasted the Purple Knights to the tune of 25-15, 25-10, 25-14. Andjela Bublic contributed a team-best 12 kills in the victory.

That was the appetizer for the main event, a rematch of the 2021 East Region Final. Daemen University had ended AIC's season a year prior and the Yellow Jackets had a packed house to avenge the defeat in front of.

It was not easy. The Wildcats fended off AIC in the first set, using a few big runs to take it 25-19. AIC turned that around to take the second set by the same total, and won the third by the same margin as well, limiting mistakes and holding the Wildcats under .100 in both sets.

Daemen pushed back, beating AIC 25-21 in the fourth set, taking the four points after Andrea Serra Rosa tied the set at 20-20. The team had 10 errors on its attack in the set, allowing the Wildcats to force a fifth.

In that fifth set, AIC started strong, with a block by Serra Rosa opening a 3-0 run and the Yellow Jackets taking a quick 7-1 lead. However, the Wildcats clawed back in again, with Maggie Burns scoring three kills to cut the deficit to 9-7. The teams split the next four points, but AIC's front line proved too much in the end. Mai-Lani Hernandez threw up a pair of huge blocks, and Serra Rosa landed the final kill to win the deciding set 15-9. She and Soto Burgos led AIC with 16 kills each in the match.

The second day opened with Molloy, and the offense was in full flight, swinging .398 as a team in a sweep, 25-16, 25-13, 25-12. Soto Burgos scored 13 kills to lead AIC, but the real story was Aleksandra Ivanovic, who had nine kills on ten swings to hit .900 and added seven blocks to her totals.

AIC closed the weekend with Saint Anselm, a conference foe. AIC roared out to a quick lead, winning the first set 25-14 and taking the second 25-21.

In that second set, Serra Rosa made history. Her third kill of the frame gave her 1584, breaking the record set by Judith Swift '01 for most in program history.

The Hawks, however, wanted to ruin the moment, and took the third set 25-23. They led for most of the fourth before AIC took its first lead at 23-22. With a chance to close it out, Soto Burgos put the ball to the floor and gave the Yellow Jackets the win.

Serra Rosa led AIC in that final match, posting 19 kills. Soto Burgos added 16, and Kristina Peric notched 11 as well as 15 digs.

Together with a representative from the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, an All-Tournament Team was named, comprised of two setters, three outside hitters, two middle blockers, and a libero.

The setters were AIC's Naomi Eckert Rivera and Bentley's Amanda Parker; Soto Burgos and Serra Rosa were joined by Maggie Burns from Daemen as the outside hitters. Ivanovic and Saint Anselm's Audrey Wetjen took the slots for the middle blockers, and the All-Tournament libero was Daemen's Jasmine Brundage. From that list, Soto Burgos was named Tournament MVP.

AIC next faces Mercy College on Tuesday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Butova Gymnasium.