Men's Volleyball Sweeps Sage in Home Opener

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted Russell Sage College in a non-conference match for their home opener of the 2025 season Wednesday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 3 (25, 25, 25) | Russell Sage College 0 (17, 23, 18)
Records: Blazers 1-2, 0-0 (GNAC) | Gators 0-6, 0-0 (NEVC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set would begin with Sage recording the first point of the match, but Elms would capitalize on ball handling errors by their opponent and a kill by sophomore John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.). The two regional opponents would trade possessions, including kills by Bellafronte, first years Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.) and Yazhua Marin Valentin (Springfield, Mass.), along with service aces from junior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain) and Bellafronte, and a block by Marin Valentin. Following the two-sided rally, the Blazers would begin to take control of the set after multiple errors by Sage, with the assistance of two service aces by sophomore Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.), kills from Bellafronte, Marin Valentin, Uschmann, and sophomore Al Sánchez (Guayama, P.R.), along with blocks by Arteroand Ladouceur, to win the opening set, 25-17.

The Gators would once again score first to kick off the second set, but Artero would record a kill and a service ace, on back-to-back plays, followed by a kill from Ladouceur to earn the opening kills of the set for Elms. Shortly after, Sage began a rally of their own, capitalizing on mistakes made by the Blazers that would help the Gators take the lead from the home team 11-7. Elms would continue their efforts to regain the lead, and would do so after blocks from Bellafronte, Marin Valentin, and Ladouceur and service aces by Artero, Ladouceur, and Bellafronte, along with kills by Sánchez, Bellafronte, and Uschmann to win the second set, 25-23.

The third and final set would see Elms take the lead after capitalizing on four errors made by their opponent. The two foes would then trade points, with the assistance of kills by Bellafronte and Ladouceur, but the Blazers would take a large lead following kills from Uschmann and Bellafronte, along with service aces by Bellafronte and junior David Tompkins (Groton, Conn.) and blocks by Uschmann and Artero. Sage would try to create some momentum to try to steal a set from Elms, but the Blazers offense and defense would remain strong, with kills from Bellafronte, Sánchez, and Uschmann, and service aces by Uschmann, Artero, and Bellafronte to win the the third set 25-18, to secure the sweep to defeat Sage 3-0 and their first victory of the 2025 season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Bellafronte made 11 kills, four service aces, three digs, a block, and an assist.

• Ladouceur generated 25 assists, three kills, two service aces, and two block assists.

• Uschmann added five kills, three service aces, and a block assist.

• Sánchez recorded 11 digs and five kills.

• Marin Valentin made three kills, three blocks, and a block assist.

• Artero added four service aces, two block assists, and a kill.

• With this win, Coach Brandon Hapgood would earn his first career win as head coach of a men's volleyball team.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will return to Picknelly Arena to host Curry College in a non-conference match on Friday, January 24th at 6 pm.

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