American International College

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's volleyball team dropped just one set in its annual home tournament, defeating D'Youville University 25-17, 22-25, 25-16, 25-16 and Molloy University 25-21, 25-12, 25-12 on Friday, September 11 and then sweeping Felician University 25-16, 25-12, 25-19 and the University of Bridgeport 25-18, 25-19, 25-15 on Saturday, September 12.

AIC is 12-0 on the season.

The Yellow Jackets made quick work of the first set against the Saints, hitting .440 with just two errors against 13 kills of 25 swings, but the visiting squad was more effectively able to slow AIC in the second, forcing seven hitting errors while improving their own offensive output to .242 as a team to tie the match 1-1.

That was as close as they would get; AIC recorded 30 kills against just eight errors on offense in the final two sets, and Janelys Perez Cortez was the center of it with 19 kills in the win. Carissa Michel and Selin Guler each added 14 kills, while Mia Berdecia notched 18 digs. Victoria Mendez dished 55 assists.

Against Molloy, AIC was devastating on both sides of the ball. The defense held the Lions under .150 attacking in all three sets, and the offense hit .524 in the second and then .667 in the third, with 16 kills and no attack errors. Michel and Guler in particular were brilliant, with 16 and 11 kills, respectively, and Defne Aydin had nine kills; all three hit above .500 for the match with just five errors on 54 swings. 

The sun rose on day two of the tournament, but unlike the calendar, AIC's fortunes did not change. Against Felician, AIC hit .373 while holding the Golden Falcons to .095, with 15 kills from Michel, 10 from Perez Cortez, and a seven-kill, five-block showing from Victoria Soto Burgos.

Finally, AIC locked down Bridgeport to finish the near-perfect weekend. The Yellow Jackets were consistent in racking up 19 kills in each of the three sets, including Guler's match-point kill to end a dominant third set. Michel had 18, with Guler adding 12 and Perez Cortez 11. Berdecia and Guler each had 15 digs. 

Five of the eight spots on the All-Tournament Team went to AIC; Michel and Guler were named the outside hitters, Lajla Rasljanin earned the middle blocker spot, and Mendez and Berdecia nabbed the setter and libero nods. 

Michel was named MVP of the Tournament. She totaled 63 kills on just 112 swings, hitting .446 and leading the weekend with 4.85 kills per set, in addition to 23 digs and five blocks.

AIC will stay at home for its next match, a nonconference battle with Monroe University on Thursday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m.