SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College men's volleyball team dropped a four-set match against Merrimack College, 25-20, 18-25, 21-25, 23-25, on Friday, February 3.

AIC is now 1-8 on the season.

AIC opened with a kill from John Rivera Ortiz to start an early 3-0 run. They sustained the lead despite several pushes by the Warriors, forcing an early timeout after a Wilmer Rodriguez kill put the Yellow Jackets up 11-5. Though Merrimack closed the gap to 15-13, they could get no closer; Rodriguez notched back-to-back aces and AIC led right through set point, where Rodriguez slammed down a kill to give AIC the win.

The Yellow Jackets scored the first two points in the second, but the Warriors bounced back to take a 4-2 lead. The set remained that close through 15-13 Merrimack as the teams traded points, but the Warriors went on a run to take the set 25-18.

The third was likewise back-and-forth early, with AIC bouncing back from an early 8-5 deficit to lead 14-11 after back-to-back kills from Alejandro Miranda and Rodriguez, but again Merrimack rallied, tying the match and bouncing back and forth to 20-20 before pulling away with five of the last six points to take a 2-1 lead.

Down but not out, AIC rallied from an early 7-3 deficit with a pair of blocks and kept the fourth set close all the way through. Tied at 23-23, the Warriors finished the job with a pair of Logan Whitaker kills to win the match.

Rodriguez was AIC's top hitter with 16 kills, while Rivera Ortiz had 11; William Fitzpatrick dished out 29 assists.

The team returns to action Saturday, February 4 against Daemen University at noon.