IRVINE, California- The American International College volleyball team opened the season on the West Coast, participating in the Concordia Invitational in Irvine, California. Despite close games, the Yellow Jackets dropped both matches, 3-1 against Concordia-Irvine and 3-0 to Azusa Pacific University.

FAST FACTS:
FINAL SCORE: Concordia-Irvine 3, AIC 1 (19-25, 25-23, 13-25, 15-25)
RECORDS: Concordia-Irvine moves to 1-0, AIC falls to 0-1
FINAL SCORE: Azusa Pacific 3, AIC 0 (20-25, 24-26, 18-25)
RECORDS: Azusa Pacific moves to 1-1, AIC moves to 0-2
LOCATION: CU Gym, Irvine, California

STAT LEADERS:
Game 1
AIC:
Andrea Serra: 15 kills, 10 digs
Jana Potic: 10 kills, seven digs
Diva Rivas-Reyes: 10 kills
Evelyn Lopez: 20 digs
Dolores Kopren: 40 assists, eight digs

Concordia-Irvine:
Jaclyn Brown: 13 kills, nine digs
Emily LaCroix-Dalluh: Nine kills
Lauren Braden: 19 kills
Brianna Latigue: 26 assist, six assists.

Game 2
AIC:
Jana Potic: 10 kills, seven digs
Victoria Perini: Six kills, three blocks
Diva Rivas-Reyes: Seven kills
Dolores Kopren: 29 assists
Evelyn Lopez: 15 digs

Azuza Pacific:
Julianna Miller: 13 kills, four blocks
Sara Wagenveld: 10 kills, four blocks
Kaylen Higa: 16 assists, eight digs
Sophia Newhouse: 15 digs

HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME ONE:

• The Yellow Jackets came out hot as they opened the game on a 5-1 run to force an Eagle timeout. AIC continued to maintain its lead, 14-10, but the Eagles tied the game at 15 and head coach Matt Cribbin used a timeout. Unfortunately, the Eagles momentum continued after the timeout, as they took the first set 25-19.
• The second set was a much tighter set from the beginning. Tied at six, the Yellow Jackets went on a 6-2 run to take the 12-8 lead. Concordia then fought back and took the 14-13 lead. With AIC leading 22-20, the teams traded points before AIC took the set 25-23.
• Concordia started the third set on a 6-0 run that forced AIC to call a timeout. The Yellow Jackets made pushes throughout the set, but the Eagles took the set, 25-13.
• The Eagles didn't lose their momentum in the fourth set, as they started on a 5-0 run. The Yellow Jackets pulled it within three, but it was not enough as the Eagles took the set 25-15.

GAME TWO:

• From the first serve, the Yellow Jackets were ready to play as they opened the game on a 6-1 run. The Cougars clawed back and took their first lead of the match at 12-11. Azusa Pacific kept the Yellow Jackets at least two points back the rest of the way, taking the set 25-20.
• After trailing 6-3, the Yellow Jackets rallied and grew their lead to 17-12. The Cougars once again found a way to get back in the game as they tied the game at 20. Both teams kept battling as the game was locked once again at 24. Azusa Pacific took the next two points to take the game, 26-24.
• The Cougars got out to an early lead and retained it for the duration of the set as they won 25-18.

GAME NOTES:

• Senior Diva Rivas-Reyes jumped into fifth place in program history in kills with her 10-kill performance against the Eagles. She currently sits at 940, 62 shy of Jamie Hutchison.
• Newcomer Andrea Serra recorded 15 kills in her first match as a Yellow Jacket. The last time a newcomer had double-digit kills in their first match was Natalija Kruger, with 21 vs Assumption back on September 4, 2015.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets will face off against Cal Poly Pomona at 11:45 a.m. before taking on Cal State-L.A at 4:15 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED:
For more updates about the AIC volleyball team, follow @AICvb on Twitter and like AIC Volleyball on Facebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow @AICAthletics on Twitter and Instagram, and like AIC Yellow Jackets on Facebook.