Posted: Nov 01, 2021
Blazers End Regular Season 1-1
Elms
(18-8,9-5 Great Northeast)
1
Regis (Mass.)
(21-7,10-3 Great Northeast)
3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elms (18-8,9-5 Great Northeast) | 25 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 1 |
|
Regis (Mass.) (21-7,10-3 Great Northeast) | 16 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Chicopee, MA – The Elms College Blazers battled it out this past weekend against conference opponent Regis College and non-conference opponent Bay Path University ending in a 1-1 day.
THE BASICS:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Match 1: Elms 1 Regis 3 (25-16, 24-26, 23-25, 20-25)
The Blazers came out strong in the first set and had an 11-3 lead after a service run from Alanys Cruz Diaz (Humacao, P.R.). Elms maintained their strong lead and were up 20-11. A last minute push from the Pride, Elms closed out the set 25-16. Elms led the match 1-0.
The second set was much tighter as the Blazers and Pride saw themselves tied 10 times including at 24-24. A pair of Pride kills saw the Blazers drop the set 24-26. The match was tied 1-1.
The third set saw more back-and-forth action as the teams remained tied through 14-14. The Blazers saw themselves down 19-14 and despite a late push from Sabrina Christie (Agawam, MA) from behind the line, the Blazers couldn't close the deficit and fell 23-25. Regis went up 2-1 in the match.
The fourth set remained closed and remained tied through 12-12. Elms gave themselves a 3-point lead at 17-14 until a 6-0 Pride service run changed the tides. The Blazers managed to fight for a late ace from Christie, but couldn't overcome the Pride as they fell 20-25. Regis won the match 3-0.
Match 2: Regis 3 Bay Path 0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-12)
Regis carried their momentum from the first match into their second matchup against the Wildcats. Regis hit a match-high .538 in the first set as they won 25-10. Ahnasia Mckinney (Chelmsford, MA) hit at a .750 clip for Regis and 11 other Pride players contributed kills. Lydia Clifford (Coventry, RI) contributed 6 kills for the Wildcats and 9 kills while Lilly Kibbe (Ware, MA) added 5 kills, 2 service aces, and 6 digs of her own.
Match 3: Elms 3 Bay Path 0 (25-11, 25-6, 25-14)
The Blazers bounced back for their non-conference senior day match vs the Bay Path Wildcats. The Blazers were strong from the service line in the first set as 5 players went on runs. The Blazers hit at a .353 clip with only 3 hitting errors and 6 players having kills in their 25-11 victory.
The second set more Blazer strength from the service line as Christie brought the Blazers from 11-5 to 19-6. The Blazers closed out the set with a 5-kill run to win 25-6. Caraballo Rivera contributed 3 and Cruz Diaz and Elese Ciarcia (South Glastonbury, CT) had one apiece. The Blazers hit at a match-high .423 clip.
The third set began much tighter as the teams remained tied at 5-5 before a service run from Jensen put the Blazers up 11-6. A late service run from Cruz Diaz saw the Blazers leading 22-14. A pair of kills from Govanna Rosado (Humacao, P.R.) and Christie gave the Blazers a 24-14 lead before a Wildcat error closed out the match. Elms won 3-0.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
MATCH 1:
Natalia Caraballo Rivera (Fajardo, P.R.) led the Blazers with 14 kills and added 2 aces and 10 digs. Laura Jensen (Torrance, CA) and Cruz Diaz added 12 kills each and 10 and 12 digs respectfully.
MATCH 3:
Christie led the Blazers with 11 kills with Caraballo Rivera and Jensen adding 10 and 8 kills respectfully.
Ciarcia hit at an impressive .600 clip with 9 kills and no errors on 15 attempts.
3 players (Christie, Jensen, Cruz Diaz) led the Blazer defense with 9 digs apiece.
FROM THE DESK OF COACH OLIVER:
"I've had a pleasure coaching a talented group of young women this past season. Thank you so much to the senior class for all your hard work and effort you've put in. I'm looking forward to our conference matchup against Johnson & Wales University this Tuesday!"
UP NEXT:
- The Blazers are back in action on Tuesday 11/2, as they hit the road to Johnson & Wales University for the GNAC Quaterfinal match set for a 7PM start.
STAY CONNECTED:
- For the latest on Elms College Athletics, follow the Blazers via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
