Men's Volleyball Soars Over Mount Ida, 3-1
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL SOARS OVER MOUNT IDA, 3-1
CHICOPEE, MA, March 7, 2007 - Elms College senior outside hitter Byron Bledsoe (Lake Forest, CA) pounded out a four-game, school-record 34 kills and freshman setter Ivan Andujar (Carolina, Puerto Rico) handed out a school-record 64 assists to help lead the Blazers to a 3-1 (36-34, 30-24, 28-30, 30-24) win over Mount Ida College in Wednesday night's North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) New England Division men's volleyball match at the Maguire Center.
With the win, Elms College snapped a three-match losing streak and improved to 8-11 overall, 3-5 NECVA New England. Mount Ida lost its fourth straight and fell to 6-17 overall, 3-6 NECVA New England.
The Blazers battled to a 36-34 win in game one despite a 13-kill effort from Mount Ida senior middle blocker Tim Hughes (Holliston, MA) in that opening game.
Hughes, currently the NCAA's Division III national leader in kills per game, was then limited to just three kills in the second game as the Blazers posted a 30-24 win.
The Mustangs, however, battled back, as Hughes blasted a game-high seven kills to help lift Mount Ida to a 30-28 win.
Bledsoe, who also recorded a match-high 17 digs, answered for the Blazers with eight of his kills in the fourth game to seal the victory.
Andujar, who broke Bledsoe's single-season record of 605 assists
last week, has 723 helpers this season and began the week
11th nationally in Division III in assists per game.
Senior middle hitter Anthony Cesaro (North Kingstown, RI) knocked down a collegiate career-high 11 kills and senior middle blocker Brian Cunniff (Pittsfield, MA) added 10 kills and four total blocks for the Blazers in Wednesday night's victory.
Hughes finished with 29 kills and sophomore outside hitter Bryan McMenamin (Warminster, PA) was also solid for the Mustangs, as he registered 11 kills and six digs.
Freshman opposite Alex Orphanos (Westwood, MA) added nine kills and 11 digs, while freshman setter Chris Meuer (Warminster, PA) dished out 49 assists in the losing effort.
Elms College concludes its six-match homestand on Friday, March 9 when it hosts Johnson & Wales University. Match time is 6:00 p.m. at the Maguire Center.