COLCHESTER, Vermont - The American International College women's volleyball team opened with a relentless attack and closed out the same way in a 25-15, 14-25, 25-18, 25-19 win at Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference play on Saturday, October 11.

AIC is now 11-3 overall and 2-0 in the NE10.

In the opening stanza, the Yellow Jackets pulled away mid-set with a trio of kills, as Janelys Perez Cortes, Selin Guler, and Carissa Michel put the ball to the wood to give AIC a 15-11 lead and force a Purple Knights timeout. The stoppage did little to help, as AIC outscored Saint Michael's 10-4 the rest of the way, with Michel acing the set point serve to close out a stretch where AIC hit .400 as a team, compared to Saint Michael's hitting just .034.

As strong as the first was, the second set went in the polar opposite fashion. The Purple Knights raced out to a 16-3 lead and AIC was never in contention to take the set. Saint Michael's landed 15 kills against just one error on 26 swings; AIC scored more points on Purple Knights service errors than its own kills as the team hit -.160.

AIC needed to recover from the set before, and was able to build up a small lead; a Perla Rosa ace gave the Yellow Jackets a 12-8 lead and forced a timeout. Once again, the break only allowed AIC to push further toward 25, as a combo block by Chelsea Foulis and Lajla Rasljanin followed, along with another Rosa ace. Ultimately, the Yellow Jackets drew set point at 24-14, and though the hosts made a valiant effort, Guler and Victoria Soto Burgos blocked an attack to win a 2-1 set lead. This set saw AIC's attack rate at least reach even, but the key was nine aces, with Michel and Daniella Russo-Lolas notching two each along with Rosa's pair.

With the win now in sight, the Yellow Jackets pounced, roaring to a 14-2 lead. Rasljanin aced an incredible four consecutive serves. Saint Michael's was able to pull within five at its closest late, but AIC was able to cruise to the win, as Soto Burgos finished the job with the final kill of the match. AIC hit .379 in the set, led by Rasljanin's five kills on seven swings.

Overall, Rasljanin had an amazing showing, with 10 kills on 16 swings with no errors for a .625 attack percentage, along with five aces. Russo-Lolas also was stellar, with 28 assists and 11 digs; Rosa made 10 digs and 22 receptions out of 23. 

AIC returns home on Tuesday, October 14 at 6:00 p.m. to face NE10 opponent Southern New Hampshire University.