Women's Volleyball Wins the Conference Battle Against Norwich

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Elms College Women's Volleyball team traveled to Norwich University for a conference match on Friday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 3 (25, 16, 25, 15, 15) | Norwich University (20, 25, 16, 25, 12)
Records: Blazers 7-6, 1-3 (GNAC) | Cadets 1-13, 0-5 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first set would see Elms score first, following a kill by junior Quiana Gibbs (Porterville, Calif.). Norwich would then take the lead shortly thereafter, but the Blazers would quickly respond with the assistance of kills by first year Samantha Haug (Union, N.J.), Q.Gibbs, seniors Alejandra Marin (Dorado, Puerto Rico), and Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.), along with four service aces by senior Angelica Marks (Miami, Fla.) to take the lead from the Cadets, 12-9. As the end of the opening set neared its end, Norwich would try to rally back to regain the lead, but Elms would continue to add to their lead further with the assistance six kills by Marin, Marks, senior Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, N.M.), sophomore Olivia Rivera (Springfield, Mass.), and Izquierdo to secure the first set 25-20.

The second set would begin with Norwich with their foot ahead early. The Blazers would score their early points from 11 kills by Marks, Q.Gibbs, Izquierdo, and Marin, a block by Marks, Holman, and a service ace from Holman. Unfortunately with these efforts, Norwich would win the set 25-16 and would even the match on set each.

The third set would start with Q.Gibbs scoring the opening kill, followed by five additional kills from herself, Holman, Marin, and Izquierdo, along with a service ace by graduate student Alyssa Moore (Ludlow, Mass.), to gain a two-point lead. As the set moved along, the Elms would continue to add to their lead, with Q.Gibbs recording two more kills and a service ace and four kills added by Marin, along with a kill from Marks to capture the third set 25-16.

The fourth set would see the Cadets score first and earn the first significant lead of the set, 10-3. The Blazers would try to bounce back with the assistance of eight kills by Q.gibbs, Izquierdo, and Marks, along with a pair of service aces from Haug and Marks and a block by Marks and Holman. But these efforts would not be much help, as Norwich would secure the set 25-15 and once again even the match two sets each and force a fifth set.

The fifth and final set would start with Cadets earning a three-point lead quickly, but after three straight kills from Q.Gibbs and Marks, Elms would tie the set 4-4. The two conference foes would then battle for the lead, with Marks scoring four straight service aces, along with Marin and Izquierdo each adding kills, to nudge their team into the lead momentarily. As Norwich would tie the 12-12, the Blazers would score three final points, a Q.Gibbs kill, a block from Holman, and a Moore service ace to help Elms win the set 15-12 and defeat their conference foe three sets to two for their first conference victory of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Q.Gibbs - 18 digs, 15 kills, and a service ace.

• Haug - eight digs and a service ace.

• Holman - 38 assists, 15 digs, two kills, two block assists, and a service ace.

• Izquierdo - 14 digs, 11 kills, two assists, and a block assist.

• Marin - 12 kills and four digs.

• Marks - nine kills, nine service aces, four digs, three block assists, and an assist.

• Moore - 30 dogs, five assists, and two service aces.

• Rivera - three digs and a kill.

UP NEXT: The Elms Women's Volleyball team will travel to North Adams, Mass. for a non-conference match against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Tuesday, October 7th at 6 pm.

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