Men's Volleyball Hosts No. 1 Springfield College

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted No. 1 Springfield College for a non-conference match on Monday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 0 (17, 25, 16) | No. 1 Springfield College 3 (25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 13-11, 1-3 (GNAC) | Pride 16-3, 0-0 (NCAA Div.III-Independent)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first set would begin with Elms taking a 3-1 lead, with help from a block by first year Juan Jones (Springfield, Mass.) and two errors by Springfield, but the Pride offense would quickly tie the set. As the set would continue, the Blazers would try to keep themselves ahead of the number one team in the country with a kill from first year David Dzhenzherukha (Agawam, Mass.) and junior John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.), along with three kills by junior Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.) and a block by senior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain), to bring the score to 15-13, but Springfield would continue to maintain their control of the score. In the final moments of the opening set, Bellafronte, Uschmann, and Jones would each record a kill, but the Pride would win the set 15-17.

The second set would start with Springfield scoring three-straight points, but the Blazers would take two kills by first year John Centeno Pagan (Manatí, P.R.) and Uschmann. The Pride would continue to keep their lead over the hosts, but the Elms offense would continue to their efforts to create some offensive momentum, with assistance from four kills by Uschmann, Bellafronte would record a kill and a service ace, and a kill from Jones and first year Xavier Lozado (Springfield, Mass.). Unfortunately, Springfield would win the second set, 25-15, and take a two set lead.

The third and final set would see the Pride take the early lead, but the Blazers would add a combined five kills by first year Joe Culhane (Agawam, Mass.), Uschmann, and Bellafonte, along with three blocks from Artero and Bellafronte, but Springfield would continue to keep their lead intact. In the final moments of the set, Lozado and Jones would each add a kill, but the Pride would win the set, 25-16, and sweep Elms in three sets.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ladouceur: 12 assists and a dig.

• Uschmann: 11 kills and four digs.

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

• Bellafronte: five kills, two block assists, a service ace, a dig, and an assist.

• Bousquet: five digs.

• Jones: three kills, a block, and a dig.

• Artero: three blocks, a dig, and an assist.

• Culhane: three digs and a kill.

• Lozado: two kills and a dig.

• Centeno Pagan: a kill.

• Sánchez: an assist.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will travel to Springfield, Mass., to face off against American International College in a non-conference match on Thursday, March 26th at 7 pm.

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