Men's Volleyball Creates a Late Rally Against National Ranked Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team traveled to nearby No. 6 Springfield College in a non-conference match Wednesday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 0 (15, 16, 18) | No. 6 Springfield College 3 (25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 3-10, 0-2 (GNAC) | Pride 12-2, 0-0 (NCAA Div. III Ind.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first set would begin with Springfield recording six-straight of their first seven points, Elms would earn their first points with the assistance of a kill by sophomore Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.) and multiple errors by the Pride. As Springfield regained momentum and continued to add to their lead, but the Blazers would continue to fight with a combined six kills by junior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain), Al Sánchez (Guayama, P.R.), Uschmann, and sophomore John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.), along with a service ace by Uschmann. The Pride would counter the offensive efforts and win the set 25-15.

The second set would start with Elms earning the first advantage by a score of 6-3, with the help of four kills by Artero, Uschmann, and Uschmann. Springfield would then take the lead after scoring seven-straight points of their own. With the Pride continuing to add to their lead, the Blazers would not be ignored, coming back to score eight points and bring the score to two points, with the assistance of kills by Uschmann and Bellafronte, 14-16. Elms would record two more points, one being a kill by Uschmann, but Springfield would take the second set 25-16.

The third and final set would once again see the Blazers take an early 5-3 lead, after they capitalized on four errors by their foes from the next town over and a kill from Uschmann. The Pride would take the lead, but Elms would continue to fight back with the help from kills by Sánchez, Uschmann, Artero, and first year Yazhua Marin Valentin (Springfield, Mass.) and a service ace by first year Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.). As the final moments of the match neared, the Blazers would continue to fight as Uschmann would make one last kill to help Elms bring the score to 24-18, but Springfield would win the set and match.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Uschmann would make 10 kills, a dig, and a service ace.

• Ladouceur made 17 assists, six digs, and a service ace.

• Artero generated four kills and three digs.

• Sánchez added four digs and two kills.

• Senior Joshua Fernandez Garcia (Canovanas, P.R.) would make three digs and two assists.

• Bellafronte generated five digs and four kills.

• Marin Valentin would create a kill.

• Sophomore Sam Moreno (El Paso, Texas) made a dig.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will travel to New Paltz, N.Y. for a non-conference tri-match against Elmira College and the Hawks on Saturday, March 1st at 2 and 4 pm.

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