SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - Graduate outside hitter Paola Soto Burgos became the seventh student-athlete in the history of the American International College women's volleyball team to reach the milestone of 1,000 career kills with her first of 19 on the day as the Yellow Jackets swept the University of Bridgeport 25-19, 26-24, 25-21 and Molloy University 25-19, 25-18, 25-14 to kick off the 2025 International Volleyball Hall of Fame East Region Clash on Friday, September 19.

AIC is now 4-2 on the season.

Daniella Russo-Lolas aced the opening serve, but neither side was able to pull away until the middle of the set when the Yellow Jackets built to a 21-15 advantage. AIC was able to hold the Purple Knights off, and Janelys Perez Cortes finished the set with a kill. Perez Cortes, Soto Burgos, Carissa Michel, and Chelsea Foulis each notched three or more kills in the set, as Russo-Lolas and Zorybeth Febres spread the ball around effectively.

The second set was also back-and-forth, and AIC again built up a lead late, getting ahead 24-20 before a rally by the Purple Knights tied the set. Paola Soto Burgos and Victoria Soto Burgos landed back-to-back kills, ending the set in AIC's favor. Much of the back-and-forth was due to miscues, as the Purple Knights hit negative, while AIC made six errors at the service line.

AIC was determined to not repeat the second, and quickly pulled out to a 9-5 lead. The Yellow Jackets were able to maintain the edge to the end, and the last two points came on Bridgeport miscues, sealing the win. Perez Cortes was incredibly efficient, with four kills on seven swings, as the Purple Knights made 17 errors in the set.

Overall, Perez Cortes led AIC with 10 kills. Perla Rosa and Claudia Flores Marrero each had 10 digs, and Febres dished 13 assists.

AIC came out swinging hard against the Lions in the nightcap, and quickly forced a pair of timeouts. The set was never close, and Paola Soto Burgos punched down set point after a Perez Cortes ace. The elder sister had six kills on 10 swings in the frame, along with two aces and two blocks.

The Yellow Jackets were then able to limit the opportunities for the Lions in the second, as the guests managed just six kills against AIC's 14. Perez Cortes and Lajla Rasljanin each notched four kills as AIC closed on a sweep.

The home squad quickly pulled away, as Michel aced serves on both sides of a Lions timeout for an 11-4 lead, and the Yellow Jackets steadily advanced from there, with Victoria Soto Burgos notching a kill and Perez Cortes acing a serve before an error by the Lions finished the job. AIC was efficient in all phases in the final set of the day, with just two attack errors and five aces with no errors on the serve. 

In the match, Russo-Lolas led AIC with 18 assists, while Rosa made 20 digs. Paola Soto Burgos and Perez Cortes had 11 and 10 kills, respectively.

AIC will finish the tournament on Saturday, September 20 at 2:00 p.m. against Northeast 10 Conference foe Bentley University. The matchup will not count towards NE10 standings.