Posted: Oct 30, 2023

Blazers Dump Conference Tri-Match

CHICOPEE, MA - The Blazers fell in straight sets to both the New England Col. Pilgrims and the Johnson and Wales University Wildcats in the Conference Tri-Match over the weekend.

BASICS

Score: Pilgrims 3 | Blazers 0

Records: Pilgrims (12-13, 7-0) | Blazers (4-20, 3-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Against New England Col., Elms was unable to find their footing as the Pilgrims set their sites on the match points. The Blazers only trailed by a couple points in the first set, but were unable to build up a run to flip the lead in their favor. In the second set the Blazers threw a wrench in New England's plans as they kept the score tied through 10's, to 13's keeping the Pilgrims on their toes. Due to a couple errors on Elms the Pilgrims found themselves again and took off with the lead, closing out the middle set 15-25.

In the third set, with 8 kills combined from Samiyah Cabrera (SPringfield, MA) and Quianna Gibbs (Porterville, CA) the Blazers were just points away from sending the match into four sets. The Pilgrims held a lead of 20-12, prepared to close out the match but the Blazers had a different plan in mind. With three consecutive point runs by Elms proved to show their grit as they continued to battle till the final point. After three straight sets (17-25, 15-25, 21-25) the Pilgrims were able to secure the match win to start off the conference tri match.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Gibbs had 7 Kills
Cabrera registered 10 with 12 digs
Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, NM) dished out 21 assists

BASICS

Score: Wildcats 3 | Blazers 0

Records: Wildcats (13-11, 10-0) | Blazers (4-21, 3-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Johnson & Wales opened up the conference match with a first set score of 16-25. The Blazers had the lead over the Wildcats but shortly had it taken away after a nine point run flipping the script in their favor.

The Blazers had another attempt at a match point in the second set starting it off with the lead. With the Wildcats tying up the score at 12's, 13's and 14's, the blazers began to trail. With a couple more chances at flipping the lead, the Blazers only came close enough to tie the match up. After the score sitting 18-18, JWU tacked on the points and surged to a 20-25 victory for their second match point.

The Blazers would fall in three against the Wildcats (16-25, 20-25, 11-25) finishing the day 0-2 in the conference tri-match.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Three Blazers registered digs in the double digits: