Men's Volleyball Outlasts Johnson & Wales, 3-2
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL OUTLASTS JOHNSON & WALES, 3-2
CHICOPEE, MA, March 9, 2007 - Elms College senior outside hitter Byron Bledsoe (Lake Forest, CA) knocked down a match-high 29 kills and the Blazers held off a late rally to earn a thrilling 3-2 (28-30, 30-21, 30-27, 21-30, 15-13) win over Johnson & Wales University in Friday night's North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) New England Division men's volleyball match at the Maguire Center.
Elms College (9-11 overall, 4-5 NECVA New England) earned its first win in nine all-time meetings against Johnson & Wales.
The visiting Wildcats (7-14, 4-5 NECVA New England), meanwhile, lost for the sixth time in their last seven matches.
With the match tied at two games apiece, the Wildcats raced out to a 9-5 lead in the deciding fifth game.
The Blazers then tallied four of the game's next five points, including a pair of kills by Bledsoe and single kills by senior middle blocker Brian Cunniff (Pittsfield, MA) and freshman outside hitter Mike Ryan (Ludlow, MA) to pull to within 10-9.
The two teams then exchanged points, and with the game tied 12-12, Bledsoe delivered his match-high fourth block solo of the night to give the Blazers a 13-12 lead.
Sophomore outside hitter Tim Gordon (Methuen, MA)
followed with an ace to bring the Blazers to match-point.
Johnson & Wales sophomore outside hitter Hapaki Kauluaau (Laie, HI) responded with his sixth kill of the match to draw the Wildcats to within 14-13.
Bledsoe then sealed the match with his 29th kill to send the Blazers to victory.
Sophomore outside hitters Sean Lauro (West Roxbury, MA) and James Scott (Fairfield, CT) delivered 20 kills apiece, while junior setter Albert Travino (San Antonio, TX) handed out a match-high 52 kills for the Wildcats in the losing effort.
Lauro and Scott combined for 13 kills to help the Wildcats win game four 30-21 and send the match to a fifth game.
Freshman setter Ivan Andujar (Carolina, Puerto Rico) recorded 49 assists, Ryan finished with eight kills and a match-high 20 digs, while Cunniff added seven kills and 13 digs in the victory.
Elms College's originally scheduled match set for Saturday, March 10 at Southern Vermont has been postponed with no makeup date set as of yet. The Blazers return to NECVA New England Division play on Monday, March 12 at Rivier College. Match time is 7:00 p.m.