Men's Volleyball Takes a Set from Rivier

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted Rivier University for a conference match Tuesday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 1 (15, 25, 18, 20) | Rivier University 3 (25, 23, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 4-15, 1-4 (GNAC) | Raiders 7-10, 2-3 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set would begin with Elms earning the early advantage after back-to-back kills by first year Yazhua Marin Valentin (Springfield, Mass.) and sophomore John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.), but Rivier would then take the lead, 7-5. The Blazers would see additional offensive support after kills by first year Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.), sophomore Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.), and Bellafronte, along with a service ace by Ladouceur and blocks by Ladouceur, junior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain), and Uschmann. Unfortunately, the Raiders would take the opening set 25-15.

The second set would see Rivier earning the early advantage, scoring a three-point lead, but back-to-back kills by sophomore Al Sánchez (Guayama, P.R.) and Uschmann would tie the set 4-4. The two sides would then battle, as the Blazers would capitalize on blocks by Ladouceur, Artero, Uschmann, Marin Valentin, and junior David Tompkins (Groton, Conn.) and kills by Ladouceur, Bellafronte, Uschmann, along with back-to-back service aces by Ladouceur. Then as the Raiders tried to rally back to tie the set, Artero and Ladouceur would come up with two big blocks to win the second set 25-23.

The third set would begin with the two conference foes battling for the early lead, with Bellafronte earning a kill and a service ace on back-to-back frames, followed by kills from Uschmann and Artero. Rivier would then create a large spread in the scoreline after gaining the lead. The Blazers offense would continue to battle back after kills by Uschmann and Artero, a pair of service aces from Ladouceur and Sánchez, and a block by Artero, but the Raiders would win the third set 25-18.

The fourth and final set would begin with Elms scoring the lead early, after kills by Uschmann and Artero, along with a block from Artero, but Rivier would come back to tie the set 6-6. The two sides would continue to battle for the lead, with Ladoucuer, Artero, and Uschmann recording kills, and Bellafronte, Marin Valentin, Artero, and Ladouceur making big blocks to earn a momentary lead. Elms would see a final service ace from Ladouceur, but the Raiders would win the set 25-20  and would win the match 3-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Uschmann would make 12 kills, two assists, and an assist.

• Ladouceur made 23 assists, five service aces, five block assists, four digs, and three kills.

• Bellafronte created six kills, three digs, a service ace, a block assist, and an assist.

• Sánchez added eight digs, a kill, a service ace, and an assist.

• Artero generated 10 blocks, six kills, a dig, and an assist.

• Marin Valentin would create three block assists, two digs, and kill.

• Tompkins would make two digs, a block assist, and an assist.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will host Emerson College on Thursday, March 20th in a conference match at 7 pm at Picknelly Arena.

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