Men's Volleyball Lose to No. 1 Springfield and Hunter in Non-Conference Tri-Match

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team traveled to No. 1 Springfield College for a non-conference tri-match against Hunter College and the Pride on Saturday afternoon.

BASICS
Match 1
Score: Elms College 1 (18, 25, 21, 15) | Hunter College 1 (25, 23, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 13-6, 1-0 (GNAC) | Hawks 7-10, 0-0 (CUNYAC)

Match 2
Score: Elms College 0 (25, 25, 25) | No. 1 Springfield College 0 (20, 14, 17)
Records: Blazers 13-7, 1-0 (GNAC) | Pride 13-3, 0-0 (NCAA Div.III-Independent)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Match 1
The first set would begin by Elms capitalizing on an error by Hunter, but the two interstate foes battling for the early lead, with the Blazers gaining some assistance from two kills by junior Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.) and a kill from first year David Dzhenzherukha (Agawam, Mass.). Shortly thereafter, the Hawks would capture the first lead of the afternoon, but Elms would continue to keep themselves within an arm's reach, with help from a kill by first year John Centeno Pagan (Manatí, P.R.) and a block from senior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain). As the opening set would continue, Hunter would earn a six-point lead, but the Blazers would try to rally themselves as junior John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.) would record a kill and a service ace, followed by two kills from Artero, and a pair of kills by Uschmann. Unfortunately, the Hawks would score six-straight points to win the first set 25-18.

The second set would see Hunter score the first point of the set, but Elms would score back-to-back points with a kill from first year Joe Culhane (Agawam, Mass.) and Artero and Uschmann making a big block. As the set would move forward, Uschmann would record a kill, but the Hawks would extend their lead. The Elms side would try to narrow their deficit with help from a service ace and a block assist by Uschmann, three kills from Culhane, Artero would add two blocks and a kill, and three kills by Bellafronte to bring the score to within a point, but Hunter would keep the edge of the Blazers. As the two non-conference teams looked to battle for the set, Elms would see Artero and Uschmann make a block and back-to-back kills from the duo. Uschmann would then record a kill and a service ace, followed by a Bellafronte kill and a kill from first year Juan Jones (Springfield, Mass.) to win their first set of the day, 25-23.

The third set would start with the Blazers earning the early advantage, with Artero recording a kill and a service ace for the first two points of the set. The Hawks would quickly tie the set with a pair of kills of their own, followed by kills by Uschmann, Jones, and sophomore Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.), but the Hunter offense would begin to create a rally to take the lead. As the set would continue, the two teams would continue to battle for the lead, with Elms gaining assistance from Uschmann adding two kills, Jones would make two kills, a kill from Culhane, Artero earning a service ace, and a kill by Bellafronte, along with a block by Bellafronte and Artero. But the set would go in favor of Hunter, winning the set 25-21.

The Blazers would begin the fourth and final set with Bellafronte and Artero making a block, followed by an Uschmann kill, but the Hawks would capitalize by earning the first lead. As the set continued, Elms would try to keep themselves close to their opposition on the scoreboard, with a combined four kills from Artero, Bellafronte, and Culhane, followed by an additional four kills by Uschmann and Bellafronte. Unfortunately, Hunter would score seven of the last eight points of the set, to win the set 25-15 and defeat the Blazers three sets to one.

Match 2
The first set would see Springfield take the first lead, but Elms would force a rally between the two neighboring teams, adding six combined kills from Culhane, Jones, Ladouceur, and first year Xavier Lozado (Springfield, Mass.). As the set would continue, the Pride would extend their lead, but the Blazers would continue to keep themselves close, with Centeno Pagan, Jones, and Culhane each adding a kill, and a pair of Artero kills, but Springfield would win the set 25-18. 

The second set would begin with the Pride earning the early advantage, but Elms would tie the set, 6-6, with a kill from Uschmann and a pair of kills by Jones. As the set would continue, the two intrastate foes would battle for the lead, with the Blazers earning points from a block by Uschmann and Artero, followed by kills from Uschmann, Bellafronte, Ladouceur, and Culhane, along with a Jones-Culhane block. But Springfield would take the second set 25-17.

The third and final set would start with the Pride controlling the set with an 11-5 lead, with Elms earning points on errors by Springfield and a kill by Culhane. As the set would move forward, Lozado and sophomore Yazhua Marin Valentin (Springfield, Mass.) would each record a kill, along with a service ace by Artero and additional kills from Jones, Lozado, and Culhane, but the Pride would win the set 25-15 to defeat the Blazers three sets to none.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ladouceur - 42 assists, four digs, and three kills.

• Uschmann - 15 kills, seven digs, four blocks, two service aces, and two assists.

• Bosuquet - 15 digs and three assists.

• Bellafronte - 11 kills, six digs, two blocks, and a service ace.

• Jones - nine kills and a block assist.

• Artero - eight blocks, eight kills, three service aces, and two digs.

• Lozado - five kills and a dig.

• Dzhenzheruka - nine assists, a kill

• Centeno Pagan - six kills and three digs.

• Culhane - 11 kills, nine digs, three assists, and a block assist.

• Sánchez - two digs.

• Marin Valentin - a kill.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will travel to Nashua, N.H. for a conference match on Thursday, March 12th at Rivier University at 7 pm.

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