Women’s Volleyball Battles Late Against Emmanuel, but Saints Defeat Blazers 3-1

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

BASICS
Score: Elms College 1 (17, 15, 29, 21) | Emmanuel College 3 (25, 25, 27, 25)
Records: Blazers 1-12, 1-3 (GNAC) | Saints 9-2, 3-0 (GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set would see Emmanuel earn an early lead, but kills from junior Angelica Marks (Miami, Fla.) and senior Francesca Dirienzo (West Springfield, Mass.) would show some offensive life for Elms. The Saints would continue to carry momentum forward extending their lead to 11, until the Blazers generated kills from sophomore Quiana Gibbs (Porterville, Cali.), junior Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, N.M.), and Dirienzo and a service ace from junior Alejandra Marin (Dorado, P.R.). Emmanuel would win the first set 25-17.

The Saints would control the second set, recording an early 7-0 lead. Elms would see kills from Gibbs and Dirienzo and a service ace from Gibbs, but Emmanuel would win the set 25-15.

The two conference opponents would trade points early in the third set, but the Saints would obtain the lead first, scoring five unanswered points, until the Blazers generated three kills by Dirienzo and junior Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.). A fire would be lit for the Elms offense, after kills by Marks and Izquierdo, along with a service ace by Izquierdo that would rally the Blazers back to tie the set 16-16. The two opposing teams would continue to battle for the lead until Elms came out on top by a score of 29-27.

The fourth and final set would see Elms earn an early 3-1 after two kills by Holman and Marin and a service ace by Gibbs, but the Saints would quickly respond and force each other to create an intense battle for the lead that would see service aces by Marks, Gibbs, and first-year Maria Codianni (Waterbury, Conn.), along with kills by Holman, Dirienzo, and Gibbs. This would last until Emmanuel generated a large lead to secure the set and match 25-21.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Holman generated 21 assists, 15 digs, three kills, and three blocks.

• Dirienzo made eight kills, four digs, and two blocks.

• Gibbs added 11 digs, seven kills, and three service aces.

• Izquierdo also had 11 digs, seven digs, with a service ace.

• Marin created 11 digs, three kills, and two assists.

UP NEXT: The Elms Women's Volleyball team will host Rhode Island College in a non-conference matchup on Monday, September 30th at Picknelly Arena at 6 PM.

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