Blazers Tab Two GNAC Wins vs. Regis and Emmanuel

BOSTON, MA – Elms men's volleyball grabbed back-to-back sweeps of Regis and host Emmanuel today in GNAC conference play.

SCORES: Elms 3 – Regis 0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-19)

Elms 3 – Emmanuel 0 (25-23, 25-18, 28-26)

RECORDS: Elms (11-13, 7-6 GNAC), Regis (12-12, 7-5 GNAC), Emmanuel (12-12, 5-7 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

Match 1:

The first set continued the trend for the day in close battles, but the Blazers used a stretch of five out of six points to create some breathing room and a 20-16 lead. The Pride pulled back to within a point, but a kill by  Moose Perry and a service ace for Luis Martinez would hand the Blazers the set 25-22. The second set never saw a team lead by more than two, as Regis and Elms battled down the stretch of another closely contested set. Both sides had an opportunity at set point to win the second, but back-to-back Pride errors would ultimately give the Blazers a 27-25 second set victory. In the final set and in another close fight for momentum, it was a 6-2 stretch for the Blazers, in the middle of the set, that opened up enough of an advantage to take them across the line. Elms held a four-point lead for much of the final moments and one last attack error on the Pride would clinch a straight-sets win for the Blazers, after a 25-19 third set win.

Match 2:

The second match of the day was again a close battle, coming down to the final moments. A four-point run late in the first set proved vital for Elms to gain momentum as Pedro De Jesus finished off the opening set with a kill to give Elms a 25-23 set win. In the second set, the Blazers were out in front from the start, jumping out to an 18-9 lead through the middle of the set. The Saints did their best to stage a comeback, pulling to within six on multiple occasions, but time ran out on Emmanuel as a kill by Benjamin Laxton gave the second set to the Blazers, 25-18. The final set played out similarly to the first set of the match with both sides battling for momentum. After trading points from 14-14 all the way to 26-26, the final set of the afternoon came down to serving. After an Emmanuel service error set up match point for Elms, Martinez finished off the match with an ace, helping Elms to the 28-26 set win and straight sets sweep.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Match 1: Carlos Mercado led the Blazers with 18 kills while De Jesus tabbed 13 and Martinez, 8. 

Antonio Delgado Rolon led the Blazers to a .287 hitting percentage with 40 assists.

Collin Liedke and Mercado each grabbed 11 digs for the Blazers with Martinez snagging 10.

Match 2:Mercado had a match-high 20 kills while Martinez added 15 and hit at a .407 clip.

Liedke led the Blazer defense with 11 digs with Mercado adding 10 and Delgado Rolon 8.

Delgado Rolon led the Blazer offense to a .211 hitting percentage with 38 assists. 

UP NEXT: 

The Blazers are back home in GNAC action Tuesday night (3/29) at 7pm for senior night.

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