Men’s Volleyball Battles Through a Tough Home Loss to No. 1 Wentworth

CHICOPEE, MA - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted No. 1 Wentworth Institute of Technology in a conference match on Tuesday night in Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 0 (22, 12, 13) | No. 1 Wentworth Institute of Technology 3 (25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 3-9, 0-3 (GNAC) | Leopards 14-0, 4-0 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set began with a kill from Wentworth, giving the match's opening point to the Leopards, but Elms would then take the lead with the help from first-year Nick Uschmann (Agawam, MA) 3-2. Wentworth would tie up the set, but the Blazers would regain the lead and extend it to a score of 19-18, with kills from graduate student Pedro De Jesus (East Hartford, CT), first-year John Bellafronte (Enfield, CT), and a service ace by Uschmann. The Leopards would gain the lead and would hold off the Blazers 22-25 to secure the opening set.

The second set of the match would begin with a very similar beginning, but the two opposing sides would battle for the lead on each frame. Wentworth would then take the advantage and go on a scoring spree of their own. Elms would continue their fight for the lead with the assistance of kills from Uschmann and De Jesus along with a service ace from De Jesus, but unfortunately the Elms offense was not enough for the Leopards, locking up the middle set 12-25.

The third and final set of the match would begin in the favor of the Blazers with the help of a service ace from first-year Joey Crain (Southwick, MA), but Wentworth would take over the lead shortly thereafter. Elms would continue their battle to recapture their momentum with kills from Uschmann, junior Joshua Fernandez Garcia (Canovanas, PR), De Jesus, Crain, and a service ace from Uschmann, but the Leopards would secure the match with a final score 13-25.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Uschmann totaled seven kills, five digs, and two service aces.

• De Jesus tallied eleven assists, five kills, five digs, and a service ace.

• Bellafronte added four kills and a dig to his season totals.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will host No. 20 Lasell University and RV SUNY New Paltz in a tri-match at Picknelly Arena on Saturday, February 24th at 11AM & 3PM.

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