Women's Volleyball blanks Saint Anselm

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's volleyball team stopped Saint Anselm College, 25-23, 25-8, 25-20, in Northeast-10 Conference play on Friday, October 27.

AIC is now 12-8 overall and 5-2 in the NE10.

The first set was a tightly-contested battle; AIC built an early 10-6 lead but it evaporated and after an Audrey Wetjen and Sam Pila combo block, the Hawks led 17-16. They still led by one at 23-22, but the Yellow Jackets bounced back thanks to a Paola Soto Burgos kill and then a block that she joined Aleksandra Ivanovic on to get AIC set point, which Perla Rosa aced off the hands of Hollyn Frano.

In the second, AIC flew to a 7-0 advantage capped by an Alice Di Francesco ace. Another strong run advanced AIC to a 15-2 lead, and by the time the dust settled, the Yellow Jackets had a 2-0 advantage thanks to a 25-8 win. 

The desperation of the Hawks was evident in the third, and they held a 14-12 advantage after a trio of Hollyn Frano kills. AIC wanted to avoid the way the first meeting between the teams went, in which the Yellow Jackets saw a 2-0 lead melt away before winning the fifth, and they made their move with a seven-point run. Kristina Peric started it with a kill, followed by two aces from Dora Butkovic. By the time the dust settled, AIC had match point, and Soto Burgos slammed home the final swing to win it.

Di Francesco passed out 30 assists and added 17 digs, one below Rosa's match-best 18. Peric totaled 12 kills, while Soto Burgos added 10 to eight digs and three blocks. Ivanovic scored eight kills on 12 swings and three blocks.

The Yellow Jackets get right back at it on Saturday, October 28 at 1:00 p.m. against Southern New Hampshire University.