Men’s Volleyball Swept By New Haven, 3-0

Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Elms College freshman outside hitter Stephen Cameron (Newington, Conn.) downed six kills and recorded a match-high eight digs, but a 10-kill effort from Austin Michalski (Voorhees, N.Y.) helped lift the University of New Haven to a 3-0 (22-30, 11-30, 18-30) sweep of the Blazers in Wednesday evening’s non-conference men’s volleyball contest in West Haven, Conn.

With the loss, Elms falls to 4-17 on the season, while New Haven improves to 3-8 overall.

The sides played to seven tie scores and three lead changes in the opening set, before New Haven used a 5-1 run to break a 15-15 deadlock and take a 21-16 lead in the stanza. An assisted block by freshman middle hitter Wilfrido Fermin (Bronx, N.Y.) and sophomore outside hitter Mike Martin (Enfield, Conn.), and a kill by sophomore opposite hitter Mike Kleckner (Bethlehem, Pa.) helped pull Elms to within two at 21-19. The Chargers answered by scoring five of the next seven points to extend its lead to 26-21 before an attacking error momentarily halted the run. From there, a Blazers service error, a kill each from Ryan Earl (Greenville, N.Y.) and Gregg Brisbin (Laurel Springs, N.J.) and a service ace by Michalski sealed the first frame victory.

Clinging to a 12-9 advantage in the second set, New Haven exploded with a 10-1 run on the strength of a kill each from Michalski, Julian Du Pont (Westport, Conn.), and Peter Kazlas (Allentown, Pa.), a pair of service aces Earl, and an assisted block by Kazlas and Earl to give the Chargers a 22-10 lead. New Haven then used an 8-1 run to close out the frame and take a 2-0 lead in the contest.

Leading 11-9 in the third stanza, New Haven scored 16 of the next 21 points to post a 27-14 cushion. The Blazers rallied for four of the next five points, but the Chargers sealed the set and match on an Elms attacking error and a solo block by Earl.

Kleckner finished with five kills, while Martin dug four balls and added a solo block and assisted on two others.

Junior setter Mike Ryan (Ludlow, Mass.) paced the Blazers’ offense with 14 assists and contributed seven digs in the losing effort.

Earl dished out a match-best 26 assists, downed a pair of aces and added five digs, while Kazlas terminated seven balls, and assisted on three blocks to help lead New Haven to the victory.

Elms returns to non-conference action on Tuesday, March 16 at Johnson & Wales University. Match-time is set for 7:00 p.m.