Men’s Volleyball Sweeps Emerson for a Conference Win

BOSTON, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team traveled to Emerson College for a conference match on Tuesday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 3 (25, 25, 25) | Emerson College 0 (21, 14,18)
Records: Blazers 15-12, 3-3 (GNAC) | Lions 4-13, 1-5 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first set would begin with Emerson earning a lead, but the tides would change when junior John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.) would make a block and a kill. As the set would continue, first year John Centeno Pagan (Manatí, R.R.) would record two kills, followed by back-to-back blocks from senior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain), first year Joe Culhane (Agawam, Mass.), junior Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.), and Bellafronte. The two conference foes would continue to battle for the lead, as Elms would see additional kills by Culhane, Bellafronte, Centeno Pagan, and Uschmann, along with a block by Artero and first year David Dzhenzherukha (Agawam, Mass.) and a service ace from Centeno Pagan. Then as the Lions would look to create a late rally, the Blazers would win the set on an Uschmann-kill, 25-21.

The second set would see Elms take the early lead after a service ace by sophomore Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.), followed by Centeno Pagan recording a kill and a service ace. The Blazers would continue to keep control of the set as their defense would record three massive blocks, by Artero, Bellafronte, Culhane, and Dzhenzherukha, along with a Dzhenzherukha-kill. Then as the set neared its end, the Elms offense would take control of the set by recording five combined kills from Dzhenzherukha, Artero, Culhane, and Centeno Pagan, and blocks by Arteo, Uschmann, and Centeno Pagan, and would win the set 25-14, to take a two set lead.

The third and final set would start with a service ace by Ladouceur and a block from Uschmann. The Blazers would continue to keep the score in their favor, with seven kills by Uschmann, Culhane, Bellafronte, Dzhenzherukha, and Artero. As Emerson would try to create an opportunity to tie the score, the Elms offense would continue to hold on to their lead, with help from kills from Bellafronte, Centeno Pagan, Culhane, a Uschmann-Bellafronte block, and a pair of service aces by senior David Tompkins (Groton, Conn.) and Bellafronte to win the set 25-18 and defeat the Lions with a three-set conference sweep.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ladouceur: 12 assists, seven digs, and two service aces.

• Dzhenzherukha: 12 assists, three kills, and two block assists.

• Centeno Pagan: ten kills, five digs, two service aces, two digs, and a block assist.

• Uschmann: seven kills, seven digs, and four blocks.

• Culhane: five kills, two digs, and two block assists.

• Artero: five blocks, three kills, two digs, and a service ace.

• Bellafronte: five blocks, four kills, a service ace, and a dig.

• Tompkins: a service ace.

• Bousquet: four digs and an assist.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will conclude the regular season on Saturday, April 4th at 12 pm when they host Emmanuel College in a conference match at Picknelly Arena for their annual Senior Day.

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