Box Score Springfield, Mass. - A thriller to say the least, the Adelphi University volleyball team hung on in the fifth set to defeat top-seeded American International and advance to the East Region final for the first time in program history. 

Despite holding a five-point lead in the fifth and final set, the Panthers (23-10) saw that lead slip away as AIC made it a 13-13 frame. Ultimately it was a stop from Samantha Collins and Kambel Fiser that sent the five-seed to the Sweet Sixteen.

The hosting Yellow Jackets (30-3) were up 19-8 in the first set after coming out of the gate on fire, and even reached set point just eight points later. A kill from Fiser set up Jamaya Harris at the service line, with the set on the line. She put together a five point run to make a late comeback, but could not overcome the deficit as AIC earned the win on a service error. For the contest, Harris was responsible for three of Adelphi's six service aces. 

Adelphi managed to hold that momentum going into the second set, as the five-seed held AIC to a sub .100 hitting percentage in the second to steal a 25-23 victory, which included 15 kills from the Panther attack. Kambel Fiser contributed two stops down the stretch to hold the Yellow Jackets back and seal the deal on a 25-23 game to even the match at one-apiece. 

Another strong performance on offense for the hosts saw AIC capture a 25-16 third set win as Adelphi nearly matched their errors and kills, accounting for eight and nine, respectively. 

It was a trio of kills starting with McQueen that put the Brown and Gold ahead in the fourth at 10-7 - a lead they would ultimately never relinquish. The teams traded points down the stretch but it was a Lilyen McCarthy tip off the block that sent the game to a fifth and deciding set. This was the second five-set match the Panthers played in as many days and seventh this season. 

A block from Collins and Katie Schloss sparked a a four-point run for Adelphi that got them to the switch of sides at 8-3. It was eventually a 13-8 game with the Panthers in the drivers seat, but the buzzing Yellow Jackets did not go away easy. The home team scored five consecutive points to get the gym on their feet at 13-all, but McQueen, Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year notched a kill to earn match point. An offensive attempt for AIC was stopped when Collins and Fiser teamed up at the net, which proved to be the difference maker in the contest. Adelphi out-blocked American International 13-7 in what could have been the final match of the season. 

The Panthers will take on no stranger in Northeast-10 Conference competitor Southern New Hampshire University. The teams met in the final weekend of regular season play with Adelphi taking a 3-0 sweep to cap a perfect month of October. The six-seeded Penmen defeated Saint Anselm earlier in the day in four sets to also punch its first ticket to the Round of 16.