Men's Volleyball Loses a Tough Match to Emmanuel

CHICOPEE, MA - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted Emmanuel College in a conference matchup Saturday morning at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 0 (16, 11, 24) | Emmanuel College (25, 25, 26)
Records: Blazers 7-19, 2-9 (GNAC) | Saints 15-8, 8-4 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Emmanuel would start the match with a two point lead, then graduate student Pedro De Jesus (East Hartford, CT) would record the first kill for Elms, but the Saints would then go on a six-point run to extend their lead 1-8. Sophomore Rafa Artero would put a pause to Emmanuel's offensive with a kill. While the Saints continued to increase their lead, De Jesus, graduate student Collin Liedke (Newington, CT), and first-years John Bellafronte (Enfield, CT) and Nick Uschmann (Agawam, MA) would record kills to help the Blazers come back in the opening set, but Emmanuel would win the set 16-25. 

The second set would start off with two kills by De Jesus to give Elms an early 2-1 lead, but it would be followed by another four-point run by the Saints. The Blazers would capitalize on errors by Emmanuel and using their own offense to get back into the set with help from multiple kills by Bellafronte, De Jesus, and Uschmann and a service ace by first-year Al Sánchez (Guayama, PR), but the Saints would secure the second set 11-25.

The third and final set would begin with a different narrative, after Elms would gain an early 5-4 with the assistance of a service ace by Liedke to start the set and three kills by De Jesus, Uschmann, and Artero. Emmanuel would tie up the set, but the Blazers would regain the lead after a kill by first-year Joey Crain (Southwick, MA). The remainder of the set would see the Saints retain the lead, but Elms would continue to battle to the very end with a final score of 24-26.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• De Jesus: 16 kills, six digs, and two assists.

• Bellafronte: five kills, two digs, two assists, and a service ace.

• Liedke: 24 assists, 10 digs, two kills, and a service ace.

UP NEXT: The Blazers will travel to Nashua, NH for their final road contest on Tuesday, April 2nd at 7PM at Rivier University in conference action.

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