Men’s Volleyball Falls to No. 15 Wentworth Leopards

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted No. 15 Wentworth Institute of Technology for a conference match on Saturday afternoon at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 0 (15, 22, 15) | No. 15 Wentworth Institute of Technology 3 (25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 13-10, 1-3 (GNAC) | Leopards 15-7, 4-1 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first set would see the two conference foes battling for early points, with Elms capitalizing on three kills by first year Joe Culhane (Agawam, Mass.) and junior Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.), but Wentworth would take the first major lead. As the set would continue, the Blazers would see six additional kills from Culhane, first year Juan Jones (Springfield, Mass.), Uschmann, and senior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain), but the Leopards would win the first set 25-15.

The second set would begin with Elms taking the an early advantage, with assistance from two Uschmann kills, a block by Artero and first year David Dzhenzherukha (Agawam, Mass.), and a kill from junior John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.). But shortly thereafter, the WIT offense would rally to tie the set, 4-4. As the set would move forward, the two conference opponents would continue to battle for the lead, with the Blazers earning points by Artero recording two kills, seven more kills by Uschmann, service aces from Bellafronte, sophomore Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.), a kill by Dzhenzherukha and Bellafronte, and blocks from Uschmann and Jones. Unfortunately, the Leopards would win the set, 25-22, and take a two-set lead over Elms.

The third and final set would start with the intrastate foes trading points, with Culhane recording two kills and two kills by Uschmann, but Wentworth would earn the first lead of the set. As the Leopards would look to extend their lead, the Blazers would see Culhane record a kill and a block, a kill from Bellafronte, and two blocks by Artero, Uschmann, and Jones, but WIT would win the set 25-15 and defeat Elms three sets to zero.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dzhenzherukha: 13 assists, a kill, and a block assist.

• Uschmann: 15 kills, four digs, and three block assists.

• Bousquet: 14 digs and an assist.

• Ladouceur: 14 assists, two digs, and a service ace.

• Culhane: six kills, three digs, and a block.

• Jones: two block assists and a kill.

• Artero: three kills, two block assists, and a dig.

• Bellafronte: three kills and a service ace.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will host No. 3 Springfield College for a non-conference match on Monday, March 23rd at 6 pm at Picknelly Arena.

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