Men's Volleyball Takes a Set from MIT at Home

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a non-conference match Thursday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 1 (13, 27, 21, 22) | Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3 (25, 25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 5-18, 2-6 (GNAC) | Engineers 13-12, 0-5 (UVC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set would see Elms score the first point after a kill by sophomore Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.), but MIT would control the set 12-4. The Blazers would see kills by junior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain), sophomore John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.), and Uschmann, along with a block by first year Yazhua Marin Valentin (Springfield, Mass.), but the Engineers would take the set 25-13.

The second set began with a block by Bellafronte and Marin Valentin, followed by a service ace from first year Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.). The two intrastate foes would then battle for the lead, with Elms capitalizing on kills by Bellafronte, Uschmann, and sophomore Al Sánchez (Guayama, P.R.), along with blocks from Marin Valentin, Artero, and Sánchez. Then as the set looked to be near its end, the Blazers would force a tie, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, but after a block by Marin Valentin and Uschmann and a service ace by Ladouceur, Elms would take the second set 27-25.

The third set would see the two sides continue to battle, with Uschmann recording three kills and a service ace, Ladouceur adding a kill of his own, and a service ace from junior David Tompkins (Groton, Conn.), along with three massive blocks by Marin Valentin, Ladouceur, Bellafronte, Artero, and Uschmann. As MIT looked to add to their lead, the Blazers would continue to record points, including three kills by Bellafornte and Uschmann, but the Engineers would take the set 25-21.

The fourth and final set would see the battle continue, as Elms would see a kill by Bellafronte and service ace from Ladouceur. MIT would continue to add to their lead, but the Blazers would continue to fight back after a combined four kills by Bellafronte, Marin Valentin and Artero, two service aces from Uschmann and Ladouceur, and two blocks by Artero, Bellafronte, and Ladouceur. But the Engineers would take the final set 25-22 to secure the 3-1 victory over Elms.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Uschmann would add 16 kills, six digs, three block assists, two service aces, and an assist.

• Ladouceur would create 26 assists, seven digs, four service aces, two block assists, and a kill.

• Bellafronte would make six kills, five digs, and three block assists.

• Artero made three kills, five blocks, and a dig.

• Sánchez would make six digs, a kill, and a block assist.

• Marin Valentin would also add seven blocks and a kill.

• Sophomore Sam Moreno (El, Paso, Texas) would add 10 digs.

• Tompkins would record two digs and a service ace.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will travel to Boston, Mass. on Saturday, March 28th for a conference tri-match at Emerson College against Dean College and the Lions at 1 & 3 pm.

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