Cadets Surrender to Women's Volleyball on Senior Night

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Volleyball team hosted Norwich University in a conference match Wednesday evening for their annual Senior Night at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Match 1
Score: Elms College 3 (20, 25, 25, 25) | Norwich University 1 (25, 20, 21, 14)
Records: Blazers 4-22, 3-10 (GNAC) | Cadets 1-24, 0-13 (GNAC)

PRIOR TO THE GAME

The Elms College Women's Volleyball team honored their senior middle hitter Francesca Dirienzo (West Springfield, Mass.), and her loved ones prior to the start of the conference matchup.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set would begin with an early 5-0 lead by Norwich, but Dirienzo would record the first point for Elms on her senior night. The Cadets would regain offensive momentum shortly after, but the Blazers would not be silenced after kills by juniors Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.), Angelica Marks (Miami, Fla.), and sophomore Quiana Gibbs (Porterville, Cali.). Norwich would continue to add to their lead, kills from junior Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, N.M.), Gibbs, Dirienzo, and Marks, along with a service ace by Dirienzo would help cut down the Cadets lead, but Norwich would win the first set 25-20.

The second set would begin with a different narrative, with the Blazers taking five of the first six-points scored after kills from Marks and Izquierdo, a service ace by Holman, and a block from Dirienzo. The Cadets would respond by bringing the score within two points, but Elms would extend their lead after kills from Izquierdo, Gibbs, and Holman, a service ace by Izquierdo, and a block from Holman and first year Olivia Rivera (Springfield, Mass.). The two conference foes would trade points back-and-forth, but the Blazers would in the second set, after back-to-back service aces by Gibbs and three kills by Dirienzo, 25-20.

Norwich would earn the first three-points of the third but Elms would take eight-straight points, after three service aces by Marks and a kill from Gibbs. The Cadets would create some offensive life to force a rally between the two teams, seeing kills from Dirienzo, Gibbs, Izquierdo, Marks, and Rivera, along with a service ace by Dirienzo. Norwich would fight until the very end of the set, until a kill from Marks would help the Blazers capture the second set 25-21 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The fourth and final set would see the Cadets taking an early 3-2 lead, but Elms would quickly rally back to force a 5-5 tie, after back-to-back kills from Dirienzo and Izquierdo. Norwich would then retake the lead, but short stints of offense by the Blazers would keep them within a stone's throw away from taking the lead. Elms would capitalize on mistakes committed by their opponent and would take the lead 13-10. From there, the Blazers offense would take over, outscoring Norwich 12-2, to take the set 25-14 and winning their final home match of the 2024 season 3-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dirienzo recorded 13 kills, two blocks, two service aces, two digs, an assist, and assisted on a block.

• Gibbs made 14 kills, six digs, three service aces, and two assists.

• Holman recorded 35 assists, 14 digs, two kills, two service aces, and assisted on one block.

• Izquierdo created 11 kills, nine digs, a service ace, and a block assist.

• Marks had 11 digs, eight kills, and four service aces.

• Rivera recorded one kill and assisted on a block.

UP NEXT: The Elms Women's Volleyball team will finish the 2024 season on the road in New London, N.H. for a conference tri-match at Colby-Sawyer College against Lasell University and the Chargers at 1 & 3 PM on Saturday, November 9th.

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