Men's Volleyball Takes a Set from Rivier

CHICOPEE, MA - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted Rivier University in a conference doubleheader on Saturday at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Match 1 (Conference Match)
Score: Elms College 1 (25, 19, 24, 20) | Rivier University 3 (23, 25, 26, 25)
Records: Blazers 3-13, 0-5 (GNAC) | Raiders 8-7, 1-0 (GNAC)

Match 2 (Non-Conference Match)
Score: Elms College 0 (21, 13, 16) | Rivier University 3 (25, 25, 25)
Record: Blazers 3-14, 0-5 (GNAC) | Raiders 9-7, 1-0 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Match 1
The opening set began with Elms and Rivier matching up evenly. First-year Nick Uschmann (Agawam, MA) would record a handful of kills for the Blazers to keep them close to Rivier. In the middle of the set, Rivier took advantage of a couple attack errors and recorded a couple kills of their own to take the lead. Graduate student Pedro De Jesus (East Hartford, CT) and first-year John Bellafronte (Enfield, CT) took part in the action and recorded a kill each to take a late lead for the Blazers. However, Elms would commit two costly service errors to bring Rivier within one point. The Blazers kept the pressure on, and a Rivier service error gave the Blazers the first match win 25-23. 

The second set would begin with both teams playing just as close as in the first set. Bellafronte would record an early kill to give the Blazers the lead, but Rivier rattled off 6 straight points earned off of a combination of kills, attack errors, and service aces. Elms playing Endicott more closely. De Jesus, Bellafronte, and graduate student Collin Liedke (Newington, CT) all recorded kills to get the Blazers back in the set. However, the Blazers committed a handful of errors, handing Rivier back free points and the lead. Bellafronte and DeJesus both recorded kills to keep the Blazers in the match, but Rivier was too much during the second set, winning 25-19.

Rivier jumped out to an early 7-4 lead in the third set, taking advantage of Elms' inexperience. After losing the lead, the Blazers decided to be more aggressive on the offensive end, forcing Rivier into committing a couple of service errors. Rivier recorded a couple of consecutive kills, extending their lead to 15-11. Uschmann continued to record kills for Elms, but the Blazers committed too many service errors this set to potentially win. Bellafronte and sophomore Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain) committed a late kill each to cut the Rivier lead to 22-21, but two late kills by Rivier won them the set 26-24. 

In the fourth set, Uschmann and DeJesus would record a handful of kills for the Blazers. Rivier would continue to put the pressure on this young Blazers team, and extended their lead out to 15-8 early. A couple of service errors by Rivier allowed Elms to get back in the set, but the Blazers responded by committing some errors of their own, allowing Rivier to extend the lead. Bellafronte, Artero, Liedke, and DeJesus recorded kills late in the set to cut the score to 22-18, but Rivier closed out the set and the match with a 25-20 set victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Uschmann: nine kills, three digs, and two block assists.

• Bellafronte: 10 kills, three assists, two digs, and two block assists.

• De Jesus: 11 kills, 10 kills, and three assists.

• Liedke: 27 assists, 15 digs, and four kills.

Match 2

Elms took the early lead off of a couple attack errors by Rivier, but the Raiders came storming back to take a 11-6 lead. De Jesus would record the next three kills for the Blazers, and a kill by Bellafronte would put the Blazers within reach, only down 16-14. Rivier responded by recording a couple of kills, but Elms stayed aggressive, forcing two consecutive attack errors on the Raiders. De Jesus recorded a late kill, but Rivier took advantage of the Blazer's mistakes, winning the first set 25-21.

The second set started tight, as Uschmann and Bellafronte recorded an early kill each to tie the score at 7. After a kill by Artero, Rivier scored 6 straight points, forcing Elms to call a timeout. Rivier continued to force Elms into service and attack errors, and took the second set easily 25-13. 

Elms started off the third set down 7-3, needing to win this set to keep the match alive. Bellafronte and Liedke would record kills each to make the set 11-5 Rivier, but Elms only needed a couple of points to get back in it. However, Elms committed a flurry of errors, giving Rivier a comfortable 15-6 lead. Elms stayed in it, turning River's aggressiveness against them, forcing a couple of errors to give the Blazers some much needed points. Uschmann recorded the last kill of the day for the Blazers, as Rivier won the set 25-16, sweeping the Blazers for the day.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• De Jesus: six kills, four digs, and an assist.

• Liedke: one kill, 14 assists, and seven digs

UP NEXT: The Blazers will be away against Emmanuel College in a conference matchup on March 13 at 7 P.M.

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