#12 Blazers Defeat #7 Gulls in NECC Action

Chicopee, MA – The Elms College Men's Volleyball team defeated the visiting Endicott College Gulls 3-1 (25-17, 25-18, 22-25, 25-23) in a match that featured two top ten teams in the nation.

The Blazers had a dream start to the match and jumped all over the gulls, taking an 18-9 lead. Luis Martinez (Bayamon, P.R.) and Jeremy Torres (Juncos, P.R.) both had multiple kills in the opening set, the Blazers strong play would force Endicott into multiple errors. Elms would eventually win the first set 25-17 on two consecutive errors by the Gulls.

The second set was much closer throughout and both teams found themselves tied up at 11-11. Two consecutive service aces from David Hernandez (Manati, P.R.) would spark the Blazers and send Elms on a run. With the score 16-13 Jovanny Torres (Juncos, P.R.) stepped up and delivered two kills and send the Blazers to a 25-18 win in the set and a 2 set to 0 lead.

The third set was the most competitive with the two teams exchanging point's right to the end. A kill by Jovanny Torres pulled the Blazers to within 1 at 22-21 but that's as close as they would get. Donovan Dey and Bryn Lipton carried the Gulls and got Endicott back in the match.

The fourth set would produce multiple lead changes early with big plays from both sides. Jeremy Torres would tie things up at 11-11 with a huge kill only to see Endicott's Bry Lipton come right back with a kill. The teams would seem to push each other the rest of the set, however the Blazers would prove to be too much for the Gulls. Two massive kills from Jovanny Torres gave Elms a 22-19 lead and Jeremy Torres would end the set 25-23 and the match 3-1 with a kill.

The Blazers are back in action on Wednesday night when they celebrate their seniors and host Nichols College at 7 P.M.