Women's Volleyball drops matches against Bentley, Tampa

WALTHAM, Massachusetts - The American International College women's volleyball team fell short to Bentley University by scores of 21-25, 19-25, 21-25 and then the University of Tampa 21-25, 23-25, 20-25 on the opening day of Bentley's 2023 Sandy Hoffman Memorial Tournament.

AIC is now 1-5 on the season.

The Yellow Jackets secured the first five points of the first set against the Falcons, only to have a mid-set run put Bentley in the lead. AIC battled back to within one late, but the Falcons closed it out with three straight points. They then opened the second set with a big run to take a 10-3 lead and held off the Yellow Jackets the rest of the way. In the third, with the score 16-15 Falcons, the hosts went on a five-point run, and ultimately claimed the match.

Against Tampa, AIC had the upper hand early with a 14-11 lead, but the Spartans scored five straight to flip the script, and then notched six of seven shortly after to pull away. The second was the closest set for AIC on the day, with the score reaching 23-23, but Tampa was able to score twice and take a 2-0 lead, and from there they finished the job in the third to sweep.

Against the Falcons, AIC's top offensive threats were the middles; Aleksandra Ivanovic and Amber Williams combined for 15 kills on 25 swings. Paola Soto Burgos led the Yellow Jackets against Tampa with 10 kills. Victoria Mendez totalled 41 assists and 20 digs between the six sets.

The Yellow Jackets face the University of New Haven at 10:00 a.m. in their final match of the Hoffman Invitational.