Blazers Drop Five Set Thriller at Vassar

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Elms College Men's Volleyball Team dropped a hard fought five set match at Vassar College on Wednesday night, 2-3.

SCORES: Elms 2 – Vassar 3 (17-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-21, 7-15)

RECORDS: Elms (12-14, 8-6 GNAC) Vassar (15-5, 5-2 UVC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

The Blazers saw themselves trailing 6-12 in early in the first set. Elms cut it to 11-15 following a kill from Carlos Mercado, but four-straight Vassar points made it 11-19. Despite a late push, the Blazers fell 17-25.

Elms responded to take the second set 25-20. The Blazers took an early 9-4 lead after a Mercado service ace. Vassar cut the Blazer lead to two at 13-11, but Elms took the following two points. A 4-0 run put the Blazers ahead 21-14. A late push by Vassar brought the deficit to 22-18, before Moose Perry tallied the set-winning kill for the tie.

Elms trailed early in the third set and trailed by four at 11-17. A pair of kills from Luis Martinez and Benjamin Laxton coupled with a service ace from Pedro De Jesus brought the Blazers within 4 at 19-23. Elms dropped the set 19-25. 

The fourth set was close, and Elms capitalized on the Vassar errors to take a 19-23 lead. Despite a late push from Vassar, the Blazers were able to close out the set on a kill from Antonio Delgado Rolon.

Vassar used a 6-1 run to take a 5-13 lead over Elms in the extra set. A pair of Vassar errors gave the Blazers hope before the Brewers sealed the set and match with a pair of kills to win 7-15.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Martinez led the Blazers with 19 kills with Mercado adding 12.

Mercado tallied 3 blocks for the Blazers with Benjamin Laxton and Perry adding 2 each.

Collin Liedke led the Blazers with 11 digs with Delgado Rolon and Martinez each adding 10.

UP NEXT: 

The Blazers are back on the road in another GNAC matchup Saturday (4/2) vs. Dean (1pm) and host Emerson at 3pm.

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