NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - Three different players recorded at least 16 kills as the American International College women's volleyball team sat down Southern Connecticut State University 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22 in Northeast 10 Conference play on Tuesday, October 20.
AIC is now 19-2 overall and 4-1 in the NE10.
After a five-set thriller against the Owls at home earlier in the season, AIC expected a battle in the Nutmeg State, and the opening sets provided that. The first set was even at 22-22 when
Defne Aydin landed three straight kills, the first of which was challenged by the hosts but upheld, to take the stanza. The second ended in similar fashion but reversed the result, with a late unsuccessful challenge after the Owls took a 24-23 lead on a Sydney Bennett kill, and then Bennett repeating the act to tie the match.
Now down to a best-of-three, the Owls saw an opening and took an early 6-1 lead. AIC scrapped to get back, and pulled even at 13-13. Shortly after, three errors helped AIC take a 19-16 lead on a six-point run that was bookened by
Carissa Michel kills. AIC held the hosts off from there, and a serving error on set point gave AIC the 2-1 edge.
The Owls again burst out into the lead early in the fourth, as it was a must-win set for them. Once again, AIC made the adjustments it needed, shrinking the lead and tying the match at 19-19 before back-to-back kills by
Janelys Perez Cortes gave AIC a 22-19 advantage. Ultimately, it was Perez Cortes who finished the match off, landing the final kill for the four-set win.
The senior led the match with 20 kills, and added three aces and a block for 24 total points, hitting .357 on the match. Michel also had an incredible night, with 16 kills and 23 digs, while Aydin's 16 kills and 12 digs were both career bests.
Victoria Mendez dished 43 assists and made 12 digs.
Mia Berdecia and
Selin Guler each also had double-digit dig totals; AIC's defense held the Owls to just 48 kills on 173 swings, while the Yellow Jackets landed 62 kills on 179 swings.
The victory was the 100th of Head Coach
Eli Irizarry's NCAA head coaching career; he had 63 wins at Daemen University and is now 37-10 at AIC; his overall 100-39 record includes a mark of 42-6 in conference play between three years in the East Coast Conference and two in the NE10.Â
AIC returns to play at Assumption University on Friday, October 23 at 5:00 p.m.
