RINDGE, N.H. (November 8, 2016) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team's four game winning streak ended on Tuesday evening with a 3-1 (22-25, 26-24, 14-25, 20-25) setback to Northeast-10 Conference opponent American International. With the loss, the Crimson and Grey will drop to 10-14, 6-6 NE-10 and the win, the Yellow Jackets seventh straight, move them to 23-5, 10-3 NE-10.

The Ravens came into the match sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot, but dropped to ninth place in the league behind Stonehill. The Ravens have two matches remaining on Friday and Saturday.

The Ravens recorded 25 blocks in the match which matches the season high that was set on September 16th at home versus NYIT. The block party was led by the middle hitter duo of reigning NE-10 Player of the Week Hannah St. Jean (Olympia, Wash.) and Abigail Sonuga (Haverhill, Mass.) who racked up eight and six total blocks respectively.

Katie Liedhold (Acushnet, Mass.) paced the Ravens offensive attack with a team-high 13 kills and was active all over the court on defense racking up a squad best 13 digs. Danielle Varricchio (Boynton Beach, Fla.) added nine kills, nine digs and two blocks. Hannah Runge (Deltona, Fla.) dished out 32 helpers and came up with 10 digs and four total blocks.

In the first set, the Crimson and Grey jumped out to a 6-1 advantage thanks to a Leidhold service ace. AIC tied up the contest 10 all when they outscored the Ravens by a 9-4 margin over the next few possessions. After a Pierce timeout, the Yellow Jackets kept on scoring as they increased the lead to 17-13 on a Ravens service error. FPU got within one point, twice over the final portions of the set before two kills by Annie Boele and Jana Potic ended the first set 25-22.

FPU won the second set which was close throughout and featured numerous lead changes. The action really picked up late with an Annie Boele kill putting the Yellow Jackets on the brink of a second stanza victory. The Ravens stopped play with a timeout and embarked on a 4-1 mini-run to take the set in extra serves with a solo block by Sonuga accounting for the final point.

Set three saw the Crimson and Grey up by a 4-2 score early before AIC took control with seven consecutive points to hold a 9-4 lead. FPU burned a timeout then cut their deficit to a 13-9 margin on a Leidhold kill, but another string of six points for the guests put them up 10, 19-9 which was the largest advantage of the match for either team. Annie Boele wrapped up the important third set for AIC with a kill to take the set by a 25-14 score.

In the final set the Ravens were close just like the second set which saw tons of back and forth possessions and lead changes. The Crimson and Grey held the early 7-4 lead, but ceded the advantage to the guests who rattled off four consecutive points to go up 8-7. No team held a huge lead through the set and it came down to the final few serves in which the Yellow Jackets took advantage of and won by a 25-20 score.

The Ravens return to the Fieldhouse on Friday with an NE-10 contest versus Adelphi at 7:00 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce cross country apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).