Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi University volleyball team pushed past American International College (16-5, 3-3 NE-10), 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 25-22, 25-15) in Northeast-10 action on Saturday, October 15 thanks to their offense, which hit .300 or better in three of the four games. 

Adelphi's (11-8, 2-3 NE-10) offensive eruption was led by Amanda Borges (12), Madison Canestrari (11) and Melissa Rigo (11), who put away a combined 34 balls. Mandy Stanislovaitis and Amalia Saleh also produced strong offensive efforts with eight kills each. Sierra Crook was all over the court defensively, earning a game-high 33 digs, while Stanislovaitis and Rigo chipped in 12 and 10 digs. Megan Manierski kept the offensive machine moving forward with a team-high 33 set assists.

 The Brown and Gold put an end to the feeling out process of the first set with a decisive, 6-1 run that turned a 12-10 Adelphi edge into a 18-11 Panther bulge. The Yellowjackets got no closer then five the rest of the way, and Adelphi closed out the game on a Stephanie Milillo service ace, 25-16.

AIC turned the tables on Adelphi in the second set, using a, 8-1 opening set lead to put a strangle hold on play early. The Panthers continued to trail mid-way through the contest when a Canestrari kill gave the hosts the serve, down six, 16-10. Rigo took full advantage of the serve, ripping off eight straight points, including two service aces, to turn a deficit into a, 18-16 lead. The Brown and Gold continued to lead, 21-19 when the Yellowjackets countered with a, 6-1 run to steal the win and knot the match at, 1-1.

The third set was a back and forth affair, as Adelphi kicked things off with a, 6-1 run, but AIC responded with a, 7-2 spurt to tie the set at eight all. The Panthers then used a four points sprint to take a, 16-11 edge, but the Yellowjackets again responded, scoring five points of their own to pull even at 16. The game was tied for the final time at 21 on an AIC kill from Annie Boele, but Rigo answered back with a kill of her own, sparking the Brown and Gold to a set ending 4-1 run, 25-22. 

The fourth and final set appeared to be another close contest, with Adelphi clinging to a one point lead early, 7-6. However, the Panthers just kept pulling away, inching closer and closer to a match victory. They led, 19-14 and finally closed things out thanks to a 6-1 spurt that was capped by a Saleh kill, 25-15.

Up Next:
Adelphi will return to action and the road on Tuesday, October 18, traveling to New Haven, Connecticut for a 7:00 pm, Northeast-10 Conference clash with Southern Connecticut State University.

Notes:
- Madison Canestrari is currently first in the Northeast-10 and seventh in the counrty in blocks per set, averaging 1.31. 
- Adelphi is now 14-5 all-time against American International College. The last time the Panthers lost to the Yellowjackets was on September 22, 2001 on the road in straight sets. 

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About Adelphi:
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past seven seasons, has collected 18 regular season conference titles, 22 tournament championships, 29 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup three times (2013, 2014, and 2016), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.

For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.