Men's Volleyball Loses a Tough Battle to Rivier

NASHUA, N.H. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team traveled to Rivier University for a conference match on Thursday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 0 (23, 22, 26) | Rivier University 3 (25, 25, 28)
Records: Blazers 13-8, 1-1 (GNAC) | Raiders 9-10, 2-1 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first set would begin a point for Rivier, but the Elms offense would take the lead after scoring five points, with assistance from kills by first year Joe Culhane (Agawam, Mass.), senior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain), and junior Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.). As the set would continue, the Raiders would rally back and tie the set. The two conference foes would begin to go back and forth, with Elms capitalizing on a block and a kill from first year Juan Jones (Springfield, Mass.), Culhane adding four kills, a block, akill by junior John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.), three Uschmann kills, and a block by Jones and first year David Dzhenzherukha (Agawam, Mass.). Unfortunately, the Raiders would take the set 25-23.

The second set would see Rivier take the first major lead in the set, scoring four early points. The Blazers would quickly respond with three kills from Culhane and Bellafronte. As the set would move forward, the two interstate foes would continue to battle for the lead, with Uschmann and Culhane each recording four kills, a Dzhenzheruka block, and a kill and a service ace from Jones in favor of Elms, but the Raiders would once again win the set narrowly, 25-22.

The third and final set would start with back-to-back kills by Culhane and Uschmann. The Blazers would take an early 6-4 lead, but their conference rival would continue to keep themselves within arm's reach to take the lead. Dzhenzheruka would record two kills and a service ace, Jones and Culhane would make a big block, Culhane added five kills, Uschmann would make four kills, sophomore Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.) and Bellafronte would each score a kill, and a final block by Dzhenzheruka and Jones. But Rivier would defeat Elms in the set, 28-26, and the conference match sweep.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ladouceur - 18 assists, eight digs, and a kill.

• Culhane - 16 kills, four digs, two blocks, and a service ace.

• Bosuquet - 16 digs and three assists.

• Dzhenzherukha - 14 assists, eight digs, three blocks, two kills, and a service ace.

• Uschmann - 13 kills, six digs, and an assist.

• Bellafronte - eight digs, three kills, two assists

• Jones - five blocks, two kills, and a service ace.

• Artero - a kill.

• Sánchez - a dig.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will host No. 12 Lasell University for a conference match on Tuesday, March 17th at 7 pm at Picknelly Arena.

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