Men's Volleyball Sweeps Gators to Secure First Victory of the Season

ALBANY, NY - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team traveled to Russell Sage College, and defeated the Gators in a non-conference matchup, Saturday afternoon, to secure their first victory of the 2024 season.

BASICS

Score: Elms College 3 (25, 25, 25) | Russell Sage College 0 (13, 23, 20)

Records: Blazers 1-3, 0-2 (GNAC) | Gators 0-4, 0-0 (NEVC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Elms College started the opening set with an early 3-2 lead with two kills from graduate student Pedro De Jesus (East Hartford, CT) and first-year Nick Uschmann (Agawam, MA). The Gators would earn a few points trying to stop the Blazers offense, but Uschmann, first-year John Bellafronte (Enfield, CT), and senior Collin Liedke (Newington, CT) would each make a kill to add to their lead. Uschmann and Bellafronte would each add an additional two kills to help secure the first set for Elms 25-12.

The second set would begin with two kills and a service ace from De Jesus and an additional kill from junior Joshua Fernandez Garcia (Canovanas, PR). The Gators would respond by taking the lead 8-13 with a series of service aces and errors. Elms would fight back with De Jesus adding an additional five kills, first-year Joey Crain (Southwick, MA) making a kill and a service ace, and Liedke would serve two aces to cut the Sage lead to within three points. The second set would close with a kill from Uschmann and two kills and two service aces from De Jesus.

The third and final set would start with a 3-6 lead to RSC. Crain, Bellafronte, and De Jesus would each record kills to bring the Gators down to a point, 8-9. De Jesus and Crain would continue to add to assist the Blazers attempts in regaining the lead. After an attack error from Sage College, Crain would serve an ace of his own to bring the score to 16-17. Moments later, with the help with kills from sophomore Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain) and De Jesus and back-to-back aces from Bellafronte, the Blazers would secure their first victory of the 2024 campaign.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• De Jesus would record a match leading 16 kills with an additional seven digs, three service aces, and three assists.

• Liedke would lead both teams with 24 assists and 11 digs, he would also record a service ace and a block assist.

• Bellafronte would lead the Blazers with four block assists.

UP NEXT: The Men's Volleyball team returns to action on Monday, January 29th travling to nearby Springfield College at 7:00 pm.

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