Women's Volleyball hangs on to down Saint Anselm

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's volleyball team hung on in a thrilling five-set win over Saint Anselm College, 25-19, 25-21, 18-25, 19-25, 15-13, on Saturday, September 17 to finish unbeaten at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame East Region Clash.

AIC is now 5-5 on the year.

AIC jumped to an early 7-1 lead in the first, only to have the Hawks go on a run of their own and take a 14-13 lead. AIC rebounded, scoring 12 of the next 17 to put the set away, finishing with an Aleksandra Ivanovic kill.

In the second, AIC once again built an early lead, 12-5, only to see it shrink. This time, the Yellow Jackets did not let the Hawks lead at any point, however, and Dora Butkovic's shot closed the set with AIC up 2-0.

The Hawks rallied to take the third, pulling away in the middle of the set on three straight Hollyn Frano aces for a 20-14 lead and eventual 25-18 win to stay alive.

The fourth was a close battle to 15-14, but the Hawks again found a way to rattle off a run, and an Alina Barbarena ace on set point tied the match 2-2.

AIC came out swinging in the fifth, taking a 5-0 lead. The Hawks once again pushed back, and tied the match at 13-13. With two points to ultimately decide the contest, Butkovic became the hero, landing the final two kills and sealing the victory for the Yellow Jackets.

Butkovic led AIC with 13 kills, while Amber Williams added 10 and four blocks; Alice Di Francesco dished 41 assists with 12 digs and four blocks.

An All-Tournament Team was named, and it was filled with players from this match; AIC's Ivanovic, Williams, and Di Francesco were joined by Audrey Wetjen, Abigail Macalaguim, and Kaitlin Brown from the Hawks. Bentley University, which also went 3-0, earned three awards, with Jazzy Burke and Rachel Vitko taking All-Tournament honors and Vitko being named MVP.

The Yellow Jackets next play host to the University of Bridgeport on Tuesday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m.