Women's Volleyball Takes Three Sets Against USJ and Mitchell, but Falls Short in Conference Tri-Match

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Elms College Women's Volleyball team traveled to University of Saint Joseph, Conn. for a conference tri-match against the Blue Jays and Mitchell College on Saturday.

BASICS
Match 1
Score: Elms College 2 (20, 20, 25, 25, 6) | University of Saint Joseph, Conn. 3 (25, 25, 10, 20, 15)
Records: Blazers 8-14, 1-9 (GNAC) | Blue Jays 5-20, 3-7 (GNAC)

Match 2
Score: Elms College 1 (25, 21, 22, 17) | Mitchell College 3 (23, 25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 8-15, 1-10 (GNAC) | Mariners 11-12, 3-9 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Match 1
The opening set would begin with Elms scoring four-straight points, including a block by senior Angelica Marks (Miami, Fla.) and a kill from senior Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.), and would take a 5-1 lead, along with a kill by first year Samantha Haug (Union, N.J.). Saint Joseph would then take over offensively, gaining a 10-6 lead, but the Blazers would generate some offensive momentum after three kills and a service ace by junior Lilliana Simmons (Springfield, Mass.), four kills from Izquierdo, and a kill and service ace by senior Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, N.M.), along with additional kills from Marks and junior Quiana Gibbs (Porterville, Calif.). But USJ would win the first 25-20.

The second set would start with the two conference foes battling for the early lead, with Elms earning points with the help of kills by Izquierdo, Marks, Simmons, Holman, and Q.Gibbs, and a pair of service aces from Holman, along with a block by Marks. The two teams would battle to the very end of the set, but the Blue Jays would take the set 25-20, with a two set lead.

The third set would once again see the two conference foes tied up in an early battle for the lead, with the Blazers capitalizing on kills by sophomore Olivia Rivera (Springfield, Mass.) and Q.Gibbs. After Saint Joseph would take the initial lead, Elms would take over the set offensively and defensively. Izquierdo would make three kills, Marks would add two kills and a block assist, Q.Gibbs would record two kills and a block assist, along with a pair of kills from Simmons, graduate student Alyssa Moore (Ludlow, Mass.) would score on a kill and a service ace by Holman, to help the Blazers win the set 25-10 and cut the deficit to two sets to one.

The fourth set would see the Blue Jays and Elms once again battle early for the lead, with kills scored by Izquierdo and Rivera. The Blazers would then earn a short-lived lead, scoring on three kills from Marks and Holman, then USJ would rally to earn their own lead. As the set would continue, Elms would see five kills from Q.Gibbs and Izquierdo, along with service aces by Izquierdo, senior Alejandra Marin (Dorado, Puerto Rico), and first year Amanda Cabrera (Greenwich, Conn.) and a block from Izquierdo and Marks, to win the set 25-20 to tie the match two sets each.

The fifth and final set would start by the Blue Jays scoring six-straight points. The Blazers earned points with the assistance of kills by Izquierdo, Q.Gibbs, and Marks, along with a service ace from Marin. Unfortunately, those efforts would not be enough as USJ would win the set 15-6 and the conference match three sets to two.

Match 2
The opening set would see Mitchell earn the first two points, but after back-to-back kills by Rivera and Izquierdo, and the Mariners would take the lead. As Mitchell looked to extend their lead, Elms would answer quickly with a pair of kills from Rivera and Izquierdo, and Marin adding a service ace and a kill, along with a block from Marks and Izquierdo. The two sides would battle over the lead, but the Blazers would take the lead, with the assistance of three service aces by Marks and a kill by first year Naiima Mack (Baltimore, Md.). The Mariners would tie the set, but kills by Q.Gibbs and Izquierdo would help win the first set 25-23.

The second set would begin with Mitchell scoring five-straight points and would continue to add upon their lead. Elms would score on kills by Izquierdo, Marks, Mack, Q.Gibbs, and Rivera, along with a service ace from Holman, but the Mariners would win the second set 25-21.

The third set would start with Mitchell earning the first point, Mack would record a kill shortly thereafter, but the Mariners would continue to control the set offensively. The Blazers would record kills by Marin, Marks, Mack, Rivera, and Izquierdo, along with a service ace from Marks. Unfortunately, Mitchell would win the set 25-22.

The fourth and final set would begin with Simmons scoring the first point on a kill, but Mitchell would score seven-straight points. Elms would then add kills from Moore, Haug, Marin, Q.Gibbs, and a service ace by Simmons, along with a block from Marks and Izquierdo. Unfortunately, the Mariners would defeat the Blazers 25-17 to win the set and the match three sets to one.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Cabrera - a service ace.

• Q.Gibbs - 25 digs, 16 kills, and a block assist.

• Haug - 20 digs, three kills, and an assist.

• Holman - 69 assists, 27 digs, five service aces, and three kills.

• Izquierdo - 25 kills, 16digs, three block assists, a service ace, and an assist.

• Mack - seven kills and three digs.

• Marin - eight kills, five digs, three service aces, and two assists.

• Marks - 16 kills, six blocks, four service aces, and two digs.

• Moore - 45 digs, nine assists, and two kills.

• Rivera - six kills and a service ace.

• Simmons - nine digs, seven kills, and three service aces.

UP NEXT: The Elms Women's Volleyball team will travel to Boston, Mass. for a conference match against Emmanuel College on Tuesday, November 4th at 7 pm.

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