Women's Volleyball Takes Opening Set Against Western New England

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Volleyball team competed in a non-conference match at Western New England University, Wednesday evening.   

BASICS
Score: Elms College 1 (27, 19, 6, 14) | Western New England University 3 (25, 25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 0-9, 0-0 (GNAC) | Golden Bears 9-1, 0-0, (CNE)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set would see Elms take an early lead with a kill by sophomore Victoria Solis (Springfield, Mass.) and assisted by junior Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, N.M.). The Blazer would take the lead 1-0. After Western New England scored two points, the Blazers answered back with back-to-back points. Elms would record another kill by Solis from Holman, and a service ace by junior Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.). The Blazers would hold the lead by getting two points from a service error and a service ace by junior Angelica Marks (Miami, Fla.). However, as points went in favor of the Golden Bears, the Blazers took back the lead, scoring two attack errors and one kill by Solis (assisted by Holman). Elms would then get two more points from a kill by sophomore Quiana Gibbs (Porterville, Cali.) assisted by Holman and from a service ace. The Blazers would then extend their lead following kills by senior Francesca Dirienzo (West Springfield, Mass.), Marks, Izquierdo, and Solis. The two local opponents would trade points, but Western New England recorded enough points to tie the set 20-20. The two sides would continue to battle until the very end of the set, when the Blazers came away with the opening set 27-25.

The second set would begin with the Golden Bears taking an early lead, but the Blazers would respond after kills by Izquierdo and Gibbs and a service ace from Marks to tie the set 6-6. Both sides would continuously try to to gain the lead, but the opposition would quickly tie the set again. Western New England would then secure the lead but kills by Izquierdo, Dirienzo, and Solis and a service ace from junior Alejandra Marin (Dorado, P.R.) would bring Elms within four-points of tying up the set again. The two sides would continue to trade points, but the Golden Bears would take the second set 25-19.

The third set would  start with the two opponents trading points, but WNE would then take an 11-point lead. Kills by Solis, Gibbs, and Dirienzo would show some offensive life, but Western New England would control the third set 25-6.

The fourth and final set would see the Blazers and Golden Bears trade the lead, including two service aces by Holman later followed by a service ace by Izquierdo and a kill by Gibbs. WNE would then gain some offensive momentum, but Elms would turn that momentum in their favor momentarily after kills by Marks and Solis, but Western New England would regain the momentum and extend their lead further. Aces by Marin and Holman would help the Blazers offensively, but the Golden Bears would secure the set and the match winning the set 25-14.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Holman recorded a season-high 29 assists, 13 digs, and three service aces.

• Izquierdo made 20 assists, seven kills, and two service aces.

• Solis led the Blazers in kills, adding eight to her season totals, with five digs.

• Marin generated eight digs, two service aces, and an assist.

• Gibbs added six kills, eight digs, and a service ace.

UP NEXT: The Elms Women's Volleyball team will travel to Weston, Mass. to take on Regis College and New England College in a conference tri-match on Saturday, September 21st at 11 AM and 1 PM.

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