NORTH ANDOVER, Massachusetts- The American International volleyball team closed out its non-conference tournament schedule Saturday afternoon at the Merrimack Invite. The Yellow Jackets took on East Stroudsburg University and host Merrimack College. The Yellow Jackets were perfect on the day, taking both matches by scores of 3-0.
East Stroudsburg
The Yellow Jackets swept the Warriors, 25-23, 25-19, and 25-18.
The Yellow Jackets were up 9-8 when the Warriors went on a 9-1 run in the first set. The Yellow Jackets immediately had their own 8-1 run to regain the lead at 18-17. As the Yellow Jackets took the first set, they ended it with a 6-2 run.
Despite swinging their second lowest percentage of the season, the Yellow Jackets kept finding ways to score. They also improved from set to set. In the first set they swung .176, .207 in the second, and .273 in the third.
Arianna Pena-Martinez led the team with nine kills while
Jana Potic chipped in seven.
Dolores Kopren notched 30 assists for the Yellow Jackets.
Mercy Rivera led the team with 23 digs in the match.
Merrimack
The Yellow Jackets entered the match with a five-set winning streak that would not be snapped in this match. The Yellow Jackets won in three straight set, 25-17, 25-16, and 25-19.
The Yellow Jackets forced 26 Warrior errors in 110 attacks for an attack percentage of .009. In the three-set match, the Yellow Jackets had 37 kills and swung .219.
Annie Boele lead the team with 10 kills, while
Jana Potic chipped in with nine.
Dolores Kopren assisted on 31 of the Yellow Jackets' 37 kills.
Mercy Rivera and
CJ Almaraz combined for 26 digs in the Yellow Jacket win.
The Yellow Jackets kick off the conference season at home when they host Stonehill College. The match is scheduled for Friday, September 23 at 7 p.m.
