Men’s Volleyball is Back in the Win Column After Defeating Regis in Conference Opener

WESTON, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team traveled to Regis College for their conference opener on Friday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 3 (25, 25, 14, 25) | Regis College 1 (23, 22, 25, 22)
Records: Blazers 12-5, 1-0 (GNAC) | Pride 9-9, 1-2 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first set would start by the two conference foes going back and forth, by alternating points, seeing Elms capitalize on four combined kills by first year Joe Culhane (Agawam, Mass.), junior John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.), and first year Juan Jones (Springfield, Mass.). Regis would then take the first major lead, but the Blazers would rally back to tie the set 10-10, with the assistance of two kills from junior Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.), a service ace by senior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain), and a Bellafronte-kill. The two intrastate GNAC opponents would continue battle for the lead, with Elms seeing blocks by Artero, sophomore Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.), and Jones, three Uschmann-kills, and kills from Bellafronte, Jones, and Culhane to take the set 25-23.

The second set would begin with the Blazers earning the first point but the Pride would score three points to take the lead. Uschmann would make a block and Bellafronte recorded another kill to nudge Elms in front of Regis on the scoreboard. As the set would continue, the Blazers would add kills from Jones, Uschmann, Bellafronte, and Culhane, and a combined four blocks Ladouceur, Jones, Artero, and Uschmann, to win their second set 25-22.

The third set would see the Pride score first once again, but the two conference rivals would continue their battle for the early lead, with Elms scoring on the assistance of three kills and a block by Uschmann, but Regis would take a five-point lead. As the set would continue, the Blazers would record five kills from Culhane, Uschmann, and Bellafronte. Unfortunately, the Pride would capture the third set 25-14, to bring the match to two sets to one.

The fourth and final set would start with Elms scoring the first three points, with Ladouceur making a kill and a service ace, followed by a Uschmann-Artero-block. Regis would add two points, but the Blazers would extend their lead with help from Uschmann and Jones each recording a pair of kills. Regis would bring the score to within two-points, but Elms would see a kill from Artero, followed by a service ace by Uschmann. In the closing moments of the set, Uschmann would add a kill, Culhane would make a service ace, blocks from Uschmann, Artero, Jones, and Bellafronte, and three final kills by Jones would secure the set 25-22 and would bring the Blazers their first conference victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ladouceur - 34 assists, a kill, four digs, three block assists, and a service ace.

• Uschmann - 17 kills, seven digs, six blocks, and a service ace.

• Bellafronte - 16 digs, six kills, a block assist, and an assist.

• Bousquet - 12 digs and an assist.

• Jones - ten kills, four blocks, and three digs.

• Culhane - six kills, ten digs, a service ace, and an assist.

• Artero - five block assists, three digs, a kill, and a service ace.

• Dzhenzherukha - two assists.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will travel to Norton, Mass. for a non-conference match on Tuesday, March 3rd at Wheaton College at 6 pm.

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