ALBANY – American International College forced 18 attack errors by The College of Saint Rose women’s volleyball team throughout the first two sets on its way to a 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 21-25, 25-15) Northeast-10 Conference victory over the Golden Knights at the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium tonight. The Yellow Jackets (15-9/6-6 NE-10) evened their league record while also winning for the fifth time in seven outings to spoil the opening night of Family Homecoming Weekend on the campus of Saint Rose.
Sophomore outside hitter
Sarah Kahrs was her usual solid self on the attack with 13 kills to lead the Golden Knights. Junior outside hitter
Rachel Baxter chipped in with nine kills and four digs, while senior libero
Mary German picked up 20 digs to pace the defense.
Five players finished with at least five kills for AIC, including sophomore outside hitter Ellisha Terry who wound up with a match-high 17 kills. Terry also hit .387, contributed 12 digs and served up a pair of aces. Junior outside hitter Keziah Kashouh and junior middle blocker Alicia Smith added eight kills apiece and combined for 13 total blocks.
The Yellow Jackets took advantage of eight miscues and five service errors by Saint Rose in the opening set to come away with a 25-22 decision. Freshman middle blocker Taila de Souza converted a pass from sophomore setter Kervelle Redhead that broke a 15-15 tie and AIC never trailed again.
In the second set, the Golden Knights committed 10 attack errors as opposed to only three for the Yellow Jackets, which proved to be the difference in a 25-15 setback. AIC trailed in the early going as Kahrs poured in six kills in the second set alone. However, Kashouh sandwiched two kills around a service error to give the Yellow Jackets the lead for good.
Saint Rose allowed itself one last breath by winning the third set 25-21. Offensively, the Golden Knights found a rhythm by hitting .250 with 10 kills and only three errors in 28 attempts. Freshman defensive specialist
Laura Falkowitz ran off three straight service points via two attack errors by AIC and a kill by junior middle hitter
Kelly Ryan to put Saint Rose in control.
The Yellow Jackets turned up the defense once again in the fourth set. The Golden Knights managed only six kills, were forced into seven attack errors, and also had five service errors to seal their fate in a 25-15 loss.
Saint Rose has a quick turnaround as the Golden Knights play host to Millersville University tomorrow morning in a non-conference match at 11:00 am. Meanwhile, AIC has tomorrow off before hosting a tri-match Sunday in Springfield, MA. The Yellow Jackets square off against Franklin Pierce University at 11:00 am before meeting Millersville at 3:00 pm.
Box Score