AMHERST, N.Y. — American International College swept Daemen University in straight sets, 25-12, 25-22, 26-24, on Saturday at Lumsden Gymnasium. The Wildcats' attack struggled with a .022 hitting percentage, while the Yellow Jackets capitalized on their superior blocking, totaling 10 team blocks. Despite a late push in Set 3, Daemen was unable to extend the match. This matchup had an intriguing backstory as American International's coach, Eli Irizarry, previously served as Daemen's head coach from 2022-2024.

Kate Trueblood made a significant impact at the service line, delivering four aces and adding a block assist for a total of 6.5 points. Nahirka Malpica recorded eight kills and contributed five digs to the defensive effort. Payton Gaylor matched Malpica with eight kills, maintaining a hitting percentage of .235 over the match. Keira Mullen added six kills and was active at the net with two block assists, contributing a total of seven points.

The Yellow Jackets were led by Lajla Rasljanin, who delivered a standout performance with a total of seven blocks, one of which was a solo effort. Janelys Perez Cortes contributed significantly to the offensive front with eight kills on 19 attempts, maintaining a hitting percentage of .368. Paola Soto-Burgos was a key player at the service line, recording three aces and adding to her total of 10.5 points. Chelsea Foulis also made a notable impact at the net with four block assists and a hitting percentage of .364.

The Wildcats hold a 6-9 overall record and a 2-1 mark in ECC play, while the Yellow Jackets currently stand at 7-3 overall with their conference record not yet established.