SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - On a night where the American International College women's volleyball team celebrated its 2024 Northeast 10 Conference Championship and a five-member senior class that helped pave the way for the program's success, the Yellow Jackets fought back from a tough first set to defeat Southern Connecticut State University 20-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-13.

AIC is now 14-6 overall and 5-2 in the NE10, tied with the Owls for third place but in possession of the tiebreaker with two games to play in conference competition.

The Owls came out swinging hard and were able to take the first set behind a .361 attack percentage. Kerrigan Habing led the Owls with an impressive eight kills on 10 swings, and Sydney Bennett added four on seven swings. That negated a strong showing by Janelys Perez Cortes, who landed five kills on 10 swings.

AIC adjusted in the second and forced the Owls into a plethora of mistakes. Southern Connecticut hit -.043 in the set and Kerrigan was held without a kill, while Paola Soto Burgos and Perez Cortes combined for seven kills, including Perez Cortes landing the set point finisher. Perla Rosa was a huge part of the success with eight digs in the set.

Now even, the Yellow Jackets built a 10-7 lead in the third, but the Owls then roared ahead 14-12. AIC returned the favor, and a Soto Burgos block gave AIC a 17-14 lead and forced an Owls timeout. The Yellow Jackets closed the set out easily from there, and Carissa Michel pounded home the set winner. Soto Burgos again scored big with five kills, but AIC spread it out well with four other players notching three kills, and the team effort put the win in sight. 

AIC quickly built a 7-3 lead in the fourth and never let the Owls get into the final frame. The team hit .312 and four different players aced serves as well as AIC's relentless attack put the match away. Fittingly, it was Soto Burgos with the finisher, ending the match with a key kill.

She led the day with 16 kills, just ahead of Perez Cortes with 14. Rosa made 20 didgs; Perez Cortes added a dozen. Daniella Russo-Lolas notched 20 assists and a kill, and Zorybeth Febres dished 17.

AIC returns to play for its final regular season home game on Tuesday, November 11 at 6:00 p.m. against Assumption University.