DOBBS FERRY, New York - In the final regular season nonconference match of its 2025 season, the American International College women's volleyball team fell 24-26, 19-25, 25-20, 18-25 to Mercy University on Tuesday, November 4.

AIC is now 13-6 overall.

The first set was back-and-forth as the teams had 11 tie scores and the lead changed hands five different times. AIC trailed 24-21 late, but three straight kills, including two by Carissa Michel, forced the set past 25. However, the Mavericks finished the set off with back-to-back blocks to take it.

AIC trailed by four early in the second, but roared back to take a 14-13 lead and force the Mavericks to take a timeout. The stoppage proved effective, as the hosts outscored the Yellow Jackets 12-5 the rest of the way, acing the final serve to win a set that saw both teams hit in the high .400s; they combined for 26 kills against just four attack errors. The biggest difference was five aces for the Mavericks.

Down 2-0, AIC locked in defensively and took advantage of miscues to build to a 16-11 lead in the third. The Mavericks could not get anything going offensively, as four blocks and four aces keyed the set win for the Yellow Jackets, including the set point service ace by Daniella Russo-Lolas.

The Yellow Jackets kept the momentum into the fourth, and led 7-3 after a Chelsea Foulis kill, but Mercy used a timeout to seize control, scoring five straight and then building a four-point lead. AIC battled back, and Foulis landed back-to-back kills to cut the gap to 19-18, but Mercy's second time out was even more effective at halting AIC's run, as the Mavericks scored six straight to take the set and match thereafter.

Janelys Perez Cortes led AIC with 11 kills, while Michel had eight. Paola Soto Burgos, Foulis, and Lalja Rasljanin each had six, and Rasljanin made seven blocks as well to lead the match. Rosa collected 12 digs and Russo-Lolas dished out 18 assists.

AIC returns home and to Northeast 10 Conference play with a contest against Southern Connecticut State University on Friday, November 7 at 6:00 p.m. It will be the team's Senior Night, as AIC celebrates Soto Burgos, Rosa, Foulis, Russo-Lolas, and Jelena Milovanovic.