MANCHESTER, New Hampshire - The American International College women's volleyball team overcame a first-set setback to defeat Southern New Hampshire University 23-25, 25-22, 25-11, 25-13 in Northeast-10 Conference play on Tuesday, October 15.

AIC is now 9-6 overall and 4-0 in the NE10.

The first set was a battle to the end, with a big AIC run early countered by a mid-set surge by the Penmen. AIC jumped to a 23-21 lead on a block by Carissa Michel and Aleksandra Lucic, but could not close the set out, and kill by Daya Jean-Baptiste tied the score; two points later, she solo blocked for set point, snapping AIC's streak of 21 consecutive set wins.

Undaunted, the Yellow Jackets scored the first four points of the second, but once again the Penmen cut into the deficit and took a 7-6 lead. AIC recovered and scored seven of eight points, only to have the Penmen notch five straight and 10 of 14 to take the advantage again. However, the Yellow Jackets had another run in them, scoring five in a row including a kill and a block by Victoria Mendez and an Alice Di Francesco ace. Ultimately, AIC prevailed 25-22, with Mendez striking the ball to the floor to put it away.

Now even in sets won, the Yellow Jackets upped their game, surging to a 9-2 third-set lead thanks in part to three kills by Mendez and two aces by Daniella Russo-Lolas. The foot never came off the gas, and AIC was ahead 22-11 when Kiya Yeoman scored the last three points, smashing two kills and then blocking solo to finish the set off.

In position to win, the Yellow Jackets did not relent, taking another 9-2 lead, this time with three aces by Di Francesco. The Penmen could do little to halt the AIC attack, and fittingly it ended on Russo-Lolas acing the match point serve, AIC's fifth of the set and 11th of the match.

Mendez and Yeoman had the two most impressive statlines; AIC's sophomore setter notched a "triple-double" with 18 kills, 20 assists, and 11 digs, while Yeoman scored kills on 11 of 17 swings and collected four blocks. Di Francesco also impressed with five aces and 19 assists, while Michel scored 11 kills, and Perla Rosa pulled up 12 digs. As a team, AIC hit at least .230 in all four sets, swinging at a .299 rate that is the squad's best in its four NE10 games and third-best of the season.

The Yellow Jackets will have some time off before a showdown with the University of New Haven on Saturday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Henry Butova Gymnasium.