Blazers Tally Two in GNAC Tri-match

BOSTON,MA –Elms men's volleyball picked up two GNAC sweeps today vs. Dean (3-0) and host Emerson (3-0).

SCORES: Elms 3 – Dean 0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-11)

Elms 3 – Emerson 0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-18)

RECORDS: Elms (14-14, 10-6 GNAC) Dean (1-23, 0-16 GNAC) Emerson (6-19, 4-12 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

Match 1: The first set was tight before a pair of kills from Cecil Villa and back-to-back service aces from Carlos Mercado gave the Blazers a 19-13 lead over Dean. Villa sealed the set with another kill at 25-19. The second set saw the Blazers leading at 18-10 on a service run from Benjamin Laxton that featured 4 Blazer kills. A pair of kills from Villa and a kill from Laxton closed out the set 25-14. The Blazers jumped out to an early lead on another Laxton service run to go up 11-3. A kill by Pedro De Jesus gave the Blazers a 20-8 lead before a Laxton kill sealed the set and match 25-11. 

Match 2: Elms jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead in the first set on a kill from Luis Martinez. A service run from Antonio Delgado Rolon pushed the Blazers to 18-12 before a string of Lion errors sealed the set 25-17. A pair of kills from Mercado and De Jesus gave the Blazers a 12-6 lead in the second set. A kill from Delgado Rolon brought the Blazers to 20-12 before 4 straight De Jesus kills closed out the set 25-15. The third set was tighter as a Laxton ace and kill from Moose Perry gave the Blazers a 13-12 lead. A pair of kills from Mercado and De Jesus saw the Blazers up 22-17 before 3 Lion errors closed out the set 25-18. Elms took the match 3-0.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Match 1: De Jesus led the Blazers with 10 kills on 16 attempts hitting .625. Perry added 9 kills at a .412 clip and Laxton hit 8-1-10 hitting .700.

Delgado Rolon dished out 21 assists with Mercado adding 13 to lead the Blazers to a .300 hitting percentage for the match. 

Collin Liedke led the Blazers with 11 digs with Villa adding 10 and Carlos Mercado picking up 9. 

Match 2: De Jesus led the Blazers with 12 kills with Laxton hitting 7-1-13 at a .462 clip. 

Mercado dished out 16 assists with Delgado Rolon adding 11 to lead the Blazers to a .215 hitting percentage. 

Liedke tallied 23 digs and set a new program individual match record for digs in 3 sets. 

UP NEXT: 

The Blazers are hosting GNAC quarterfinals Tuesday at 7pm. More info to come. 

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