SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Felician College volleyball team began its 2012 season on Saturday afternoon with a pair of matches on Day 1 of the Yellow Jacket Invitational, hosted by American International College at Butova Gymnasium. The Golden Falcons lost a pair of 3-0 non-conference decisions, first to the University of Bridgeport and then to the host Yellow Jackets.

In Felician's season opener, it allowed Bridgeport to hit .494 for the match in a 25-10, 25-11, 25-19 defeat. The Golden Falcons hit .333 in Set 3 and had early leads of 5-1 and 10-8 but could not extend the match.

Golden Falcon junior middle Alexa Scrivanich (Paramus, N.J.) hit .312 with six kills, and freshman Olivia Emerson (Sparks, Nev.) also amassed six kills. Felician freshman Sarah Shebel (Chandler, Ariz.) posted 13 assists and seven digs in her collegiate debut.

UB put three hitters in double figures in kills, led by 15 and 10 digs from Biljana Savic.

Later on Saturday, Felician fell 25-19, 25-14, 25-20 to AIC despite seven kills from Emerson, who hit .353 for the match. AIC hit .308 as a team and held the Golden Falcons to an .089 attack percentage.

Jenna Matesic (Paramus, N.J.) had five kills and led Felician with 13 digs. Setter Kervelle Redhead guided the Yellow Jacket offense with 34 assists.

Felician plays two more matches in the tournament on Sunday morning.