WEST HAVEN, Connecticut - The No. 6-seeded American International College volleyball team took on the No. 2-seeded Molloy Lions with a place in the NCAA East Region Championship on the line. After the Yellow Jackets wonthe first two sets, the Lions bounced back to force a fifth set, but ultimately the Yellow Jackets came out on top, 3-2.
FAST FACTS:
FINAL SCORE: No. 6 AIC 3, No. 2 Molloy 2 (25-16, 25-22, 16-25, 17-25, 15-10)
RECORDS:AIC improves to 23-10 overall, while Molloy's season comes to an end with a 26-6 record overall.
LOCATION: Charger Gym, West Haven, Connecticut
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Jana Potic: 20 kills, 10 digs
Diva Rivas-Reyes: 17 kills
Dolores Kopren: 48 assists, 15 digs
Mercy Rivera: 17 digs, seven assists
Molloy
Carly Banks: 19 kills
Hailey Wehr: 11 kills
Sophia Smith: 47 assists, 15 digs
Dakota O'Neill: 26 digs
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- With Kopren serving, the Yellow Jackets started the match on a 12-3 run where AIC forced four Lion errors, killed six balls and had two aces. AIC kept swinging well and forcing the Lions into tough shots as the Yellow Jackets took the first set, 25-16.
- Molloy started the second set much better than the first as the two teams were tied at 11 early in the set. The set continued that way as the pressure started rising when the teams were tied at 22. The Yellow Jackets used last year's experience as they continued to play well under pressure, and forced three Lion errors.
- Despite being down 2-0 in their second-ever NCAA Tournament match, the Lions did not shy away from the pressure. Up 10-6, the Lions went on a 10-4 run to give them the 20-10 lead. The Yellow Jackets tried to use a late push, but it was too late as the Lions took the set, 25-16.
- Molloy carried the momentum into the fourth set with an early 12-3 lead, and did not slow down, winning the set, 25-17.
- For the second straight game, and third straight NCAA Regional Tournament game, the Yellow Jackets went to a fifth set. Down 3-2, the Yellow Jackets went on a 4-0 run to give them the 6-3 run and force the first Molloy timeout. AIC was the first to eight points, so the two teams switched sides as the Yellow Jackets led 8-6.
- The Lions made it a 12-10 game before a kill by Potic and a forced Lion error made it a 14-10 game. Potic sent the Yellow Jackets to their second straight NCAA East Region Championship with a kill to end the set.
GAME NOTES:
- The Yellow Jackets now have three current players in the program Top 10 list for kills. Rivas-Reyes is sitting in sixth place with 920, Annie Boele is in seventh place with 888, and Jana Potic is in ninth at 810.
- With a dig in the fifth set of the quarterfinal match against LIU Post, Boele became just the 11thplayer in program history to record 1,000 career digs. She currently has 1,013 career digs.
- Rivera became the career leader in digs in program history during October 17'smatch against Southern Connecticut State. Rivera's dig on the final play of the game proved to be the record-breaking dig.
- On October 28 against Roberts Wesleyan, Rivera became the first player in program history to surpass the 2,000 digs club. She sits at 2,154 digs.
- Kopren now ranks third all-time in program history in assists. She currently has 2,824 career assists and is 1,015 behind Stephanie O'Brien, who has 3,839.
NEXT UP:
- The Yellow Jackets will face the winner of the #5 Southern Connecticut and #1 New Haven match.
STAY CONNECTED:
- For more updates about the AIC volleyball team, follow@AICvbonTwitterand likeAIC VolleyballonFacebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticsonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.
