Women's Volleyball Loses a Tough Match to Johnson & Wales

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Volleyball team hosted Johnson & Wales University in a conference match Wednesday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 0 (10, 16, 20) | Johnson & Wales University 3 (25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 2-19, 1-8 (GNAC) | Wildcats 7-13, 2-1 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED 

The opening set would see Johnson & Wales record six-straight points to earn an early 6-0 lead. Elms would record their kill by sophomore Quiana Gibbs (Porterville, Cali.), but that kill would be a small hesitation for the Wildcats, as they increased their lead to 18-6. The Blazers would then see kills from juniors Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.) and Alejandra Marin (Dorado, P.R.), but JWU would win the opening set 25-20.

The second set would again see the Wildcats gain an early 7-2 and Gibbs recording the first kill of the set for Elms and a block from senior Francesca Dirienzo (West Springfield, Mass.). Johnson & Wales would then get back on the offensive extending their lead 20-7. The Blazers would then force a late rally, scoring eight points, with multiple kills from sophomore Victoria Solis (Springfield, Mass), junior Angelica Marks (Miami, Fla.), Dirienzo, and Marin, along with a service ace from first-year Maria Codianni (Waterbury, Conn.), but the Wildcats would win the second set 25-16.

The third and final set would see Elms with the early advantage with a 5-2 lead, with the assistance of three-straight kills from Solis and Izquierdo. JWU would tie the set 5-5, but kills from Gibbs and Izquierdo would help regain the lead 11-7. The two sides would battle over the lead, with help from a service ace from Mark and kills from Gibbs, Izquierdo, and Marks, but the Wildcats would win the final set and secure the sweepover Elms 25-20 at home.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Junior Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, N.M.) recorded 16 assists and five digs.

• Izquierdo made six kills, three digs, and two assists.

• Marin added 11 digs, two kills, and an assist.

• Gibbs and Sollis both recorded five kills with a combined four digs.

• Dirienzo made a block and a kill.

UP NEXT: The Elms Women's Volleyball team will travel to Franklin, Mass. to face off against Dean College in a conference matchup on Friday, OCtober 25th at 7 PM.

--

For continuing coverage of Elms College Athletics, visit www.ecblazers.com and follow the Blazers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.