Strong Monarchs Side Sweep Men's Volleyball in Hard Fought Battle

CHICOPEE, Mass. -  The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted King's College, Penn. in a non-conference matchup on Friday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 0 (18, 18, 18) | King's College, Penn. 3 (25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 3-7, 0-1 (GNAC) | Monarchs 7-4, 0-0 (MAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Elms would start off strong in the opening set with a service ace made by sophomore Al Sánchez (Guayama, P.R.) and two kills made by sophomore Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.). Then King's would make an error that would result in a point for the Blazers. Senior Joshua Fernandez Garcia (Canovanas, P.R.) would get a kill that was set up by first year Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.). Elms would get two back to back kills made by junior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain) and Uschmann. After the Monarchs got some points on the board, Sánchez would make a kill. Then Uschmann would get two more kills. After King's took the lead, Uschmann would get two more kills and Artero would get another kill for the Blazers. After another two kills made by Uschmann, first year Yazhua Marin Valentin (Springfield, Mass.) would get his first kill of the night. After two more errors made by the Monarchs that resulted in two points for the Blazers, the Monarchs would win the first set 25-18.

At the start of the second match, Elms would put up the first points on the board, due to an error made by King's. The Blazers would capitalize on the Monarchs two errors, until Ladouceur made his first kill of the night. The Monarchs would make another error, which gave Uschmann the opportunity to make a kill. Uschmann would make another kill that was followed by a service ace, and two errors. Fernandez Garcia would tie the set with a kill. The Blazers would get 6 more points due to King's errors and a kill from Uschmann. The Monarchs would win the second set 25-18.

We would see a similar narrative going into the third set, with Elms putting up the first points from Marin Valentin getting his second kill of the night. Uschmann would get another kill that would be followed by two more errors made by the Monarchs. Uschmann would get two more kills and Sánchez would get another kill for the Blazers. After an error made by the Monarchs, Marin Valentin would get another kill. Then Kings would make three errors, which  Elms would capitalize on by getting two service aces and a kill made by Uschmann. Elms would be down by 4 points, but unfortunately Kings was able to strengthen their lead. Uschman would get another kill and Kings would make three more errors that would reward Elms with three more points. Unfortunately, Elms wasn't able to take home the win, and King's would win the set 25-18 and the match 3-0.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Uschmann would lead the team with 17 kills, have 5 digs, two service aces, and on block assist. 

• Ladouceur made 24 assists, two digs, two block assists, and one kill

• Marin Valentin added three kills, one assist, one service ace, and one dig

• Sánchez generated two kills, three service aces, and 5 digs

• Fernandez Garcia would make two kills and 8 digs

• Sophomore Sam Moreno (El Paso, Texas) made 8 digs

• Artero had two kills and three block assists 

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Volleyball team will host Bard College in a non-conference match on Friday, February 21st at 6 pm at Picknelly Arena.

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