Men's Volleyball Beats Undefeated Curry for Second Straight Victory

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted Curry College in a non-conference match Friday evening at Picknelly Arena

BASICS
Score: Elms College 3 (25, 25, 16, 25) | Curry College 1 (16, 18, 25, 20)
Records: Blazers 2-2, 0-0 (GNAC) | Colonels 2-1, 0-0 (NCAA Div. III Ind.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set would begin with Curry recording the first three points of the match, but Elms would capitalize with a kill by sophomore Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.) and a service ace from senior Joshua Fernandez Garcia (Canovanas, P.R.). Then the Blazers would capitalize again on poor sets and errors from their opponents, along with two more kills from Uschmann and a block from junior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain) and sophomore Al Sánchez (Guayama, P.R.). Elms would keep possession with a kill from Sánchez and two kills made by sophomore John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.). Sánchez would get another kill before the Colonels closed the gap. But then Curry would commit two attack errors and the Blazers would have a block from Artero along with three-straight service aces by Bellafronte that would increase the gap. With another service error that would give Elms another point, first year Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.) was able to make a kill. Then, with errors made by Curry once again, Elms would see a block by Bellafronte and Uschmann, followed by Uschmann was able to get another kill. After Curry was able to get two more points, the Blazers were able to end the set with three more points, including a service ace from Uschmann, which would help them get the first win of the night, 25-16.

The Colonels would once again score first to kick off the second set, but Uschmann would get another kill. After a bad set made by the Blazers, Elms was able to step up and get four points due from an error and three service aces from Uschmann. After another two more errors made by the opponents, Fernandez Garcia was able to get his first kill of the night, followed by a block by Uschmann and Artero. Curry was able to close the gap, but then with another error made by the Colonels, Artero was able to get his first kill of the night shortly after. The Blazers were able to hold the lead due to another service error and with another kill made by Sánchez. Elms furthered the lead with a kill by Artero, a kill by Uschmann, two kills by Sánchez, two service aces, and a bad set. The Blazers were able to secure the win for this set with another skill by Bellafronte, a kill by Fernandex Garcia, kill by Ushmann, and two errors. At the end of this set, the Blazers would take a 2-0 lead, winning 25-18. 

At the start of the third set, we would see a different story, where Uschmann would make two kills, which would put Elms first on the board. The Colonels would then take over offensively, but the Blazers would continue their efforts to try to regain the lead. The Elms offense would see kills by Artero, Ladouceur, Fernandez Garcia, and Sánchez, along with two service aces by Bellafronte and a block from Artero, but their opponent would be too much for the Blazers and the Colonels would outscore Elms 25-16 to win the third set.

The fourth and final set would begin with an early 4-2 lead by Curry, but a kill by Bellafronte and a service ace from junior David Tompkins (Groton, Conn.) would begin to redirect the tides in the Blazers favor. The two sides would begin to battle for points, but Elms would take a large lead beginning with kills by Bellafronte and Fernandez Garica and a service ace from Ladouceur. As the fourth set would begin to see the end, as the Blazers offense would reawaken after Uschmann, Sánchez, and Bellafronte would make a combine six kills, along with a service ace from Artero, as Elms would defeat Curry 25-20 for their second straight victory of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Uschmann would lead the team in kills with 12, along with five digs, four service aces, and two block assists.

• Ladouceur added 33 assists, seven digs, three kills, and a service ace.

• Bellafronte made nine kills, seven digs, five service aces, and two block assists.

• Sánchez generated nine digs, eight kills, a service ace, and a block assist.

• Fernandez Garcia created eight digs, five kills, two assists, and a service ace.

• Artero articulated five digs, three kills, three blocks, and two service aces.

• Thompkins would make two digs and a service ace.

• Sophomore Sam Moreno (El Paso, Texas) added four digs with an assist.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will return to Picknelly Arena on Tuesday, January 28th to host No. 7 Springfield College in a non-conference match at 7 pm.

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