SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's volleyball team picked up its first Northeast-10 Conference win with a sweep of Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday, September 29. Rookie Ulrika Blomgren made the most of her first career start with 15 kills and nine digs.
FAST FACTS:
Final Scores: AIC 3, Southern Connecticut 0
Set Scores: 27-25, 25-17, 25-17
Record: AIC moves to 8-6 (1-2 NE10); Southern Connecticut falls to 12-3 (1-1 NE10)
Location: Henry A. Butova Gym Springfield, Mass.
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Ulrika Blomgren: 15 kills, .361 hitting percentage, nine digs, 16.5 points
Andrea Serra-Rosa: 11 kills, eight digs, 11.5 points
Paola Soto-Burgos: nine kills, six digs
Naomi Eckert-Rivera: 43 assists, 14 digs
Amanda Rodriguez: 19 digs
Southern Connecticut:
Gabriela Gaibur: 10 kills, 12 digs
Layla Cortez: eight kills
Heliceliz Rivera: 25 assists, six digs
Krishnalei So'oto: 13 digs
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Yellow Jackets were locked in as the first set got underway as they jumped ahead 4-2. The teams were knotted at 15 in the frame when rookie outside hitter Paola Soto-Burgos recorded a kill to start a 4-0 run. Sophomore setter Naomi Eckert-Rivera pulled out some trickery and recorded a kill of her own before player of the match freshman Ulrika Blomgren recorded a kill.
- AIC trailed 24-23 as the Owls closed in on taking the first set. Blomgren tied the game and then gave AIC the lead as Eckert set the hot hand. The Owls tied things at 25 before Blomgren notched another kill before her and sophomore middle blocker Mai-Lani Hernandez stuffed Abigail Epstein to take the first set 27-25.
- Leading 11-10 in the next set, AIC took advantage of an Owl serving mistake to extend their lead. Blomgren aced the next serve then Hernandez sent a rocket to the other side of the court as AIC went ahead 16-11.
- The Yellow Jackets started to gain some cushion as another Owl serving mistake led to multiple AIC points. Newcomer middle blocker Aleksandra Ivanovic and Blomgren added to their kill totals while Ivanovic and classmate Soto-Burgos threw a block party for the Yellow Jackets. Freshman Dora Butkovic's ace was the last point of the 5-0 run. Hernandez ended the set with a kill to give the Yellow Jackets the 2-0 lead.
- AIC continued to roll as the hosts had a 12-9 lead in the third set. Graduate outside hitter Andrea Serra-Rosa sandwiched a kill by Soto-Burgos with kills of her own to make it a 17-12 game.
- Southern Connecticut added a pair of points before Ivanovic and Serra-Rosa sent an Owl attack back and Blomgren recorded her 14th kill of the match. Leading 23-17, Blomgren and Hernandez went back-to-back with kills the complete the 3-0 sweep of the Owls.
NEXT UP:
- The Yellow Jackets hit the road to take on Adelphi University on Saturday, October 2 at 1 p.m.
