NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - The American International College volleyball team headed south to take on Southern Connecticut State University on Tuesday, October 1 in Northeast-10 Conference play. The Yellow Jackets picked up their first NE10 win of the season in an exciting four-set match.

FAST FACTS:
FINAL SCORE: AIC 3, SCSU 1 (25-14, 14-25, 25-22, 25-19)
RECORDS: SCSU moves to 7-8 overall and 1-1 in NE10 play, while AIC moves to 3-14 overall and 1-2 in NE10 play.
LOCATION: Pelz Gym New Haven, Connecticut

STAT LEADERS:
Game 1
AIC:
Sarah Lowery: 18 kills, 15 digs, two aces
Andrea Serra: 13 kills, 18 digs, two aces
Jana Potic: 13 kills, nine digs
Amanda Rodriguez: 23 digs, eight assists
Naomi Eckert: 40 assists, 21 digs

SCSU:
Erika Benson: 10 kills, four blocks
Ariel Letcher: eight kills, 14 digs
Tea Carter: 36 assists, six digs, two blocks


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Knotted at eight in the first set, the Yellow Jackets went on a 5-0 run that was sparked by redshirt-sophomore outside hitter Andrea Serra. That was followed up by a block by redshirt-sophomore middle blocker Claudia Gonzalez and freshman setter Naomi Eckert. Eckert followed her block up with a sneak dump that landed for a kill. Rounding out the rally was an ace by sophomore middle blocker Ada Guilera Martinez and an attack error by the Owls. Leading 19-14, graduate student outside hitter Sarah Lowery started a rally to help the Yellow Jackets take the set 25-14.
• The Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in the first set. The Owls swooped back into the set as they tied things up at nine before taking the next point. Gridlocked at 12, the Owls went on a 13-2 run to take the second set 25-14.
• In the third set, the teams were tied at two when the Yellow Jackets used a 5-0 run to take the lead. AIC led 13-10 when a 5-1 run allowed them to extend their lead to seven. The Owls answered back with a 5-0 run to make it a two-point game. A service error by the Owls followed by kills by Lowery and Serra made it a 22-17 game. Serra gave the Yellow Jackets set point on a kill that made it 24-19. The Owls were persistent as they made it a two-point game before Serra slammed the door to take the third set.
• The teams traded 4-0 runs to start the fourth set. Unfortunately for the Owls, AIC's run extended into a 10-2 run that forced an Owl timeout as they trailed 10-6. Out of the talk, the Owls brought it back to within one, 10-9, before the Yellow Jackets swarmed out on an 8-1 run. Southern Connecticut tried to fight back, but an Owl error gave the Yellow Jackets the fourth set 25-19 and the match with it.

BUZZWORTHY:

• Eckert broke her career-high digs record against the Owls. Her 21 digs knocked off the 20 digs she had against Jefferson on September 14.
• For the fourth time this season, Lowery led the team in kills. She also recorded her seventh double-double of the season. She is now third on the team this season in double-doubles as she trails Eckert with eight and Serra with nine.

KILLS, POINTS, AND DIGS OH MY:

• With 1,370 career kills, Potic became the program's rally scoring era leader. She is now trailing Judith Swift '01 for the overall program record of 1,583.
• Potic also recently became the program's rally scoring era leader in points. Her 1,586.5 points recently passedEllisha Terry'12 for second all-time in program history.
• Including her nine digs today, Potic needs 15 digs to surpass the 1,000 career dig plateau.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets will return home as they host Adelphi University on Saturday, October 5 at 1 p.m.

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.