Women's Volleyball Takes Pilgrims to Five Sets in Home Tri-Match

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Volleyball team hosted a tri-match featuring New England College in a conference match and Western New England University in a non-conference match on Saturday at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Match 1
Score: Elms College 2 (21, 13, 25, 25, 8) | New England College 3 (25, 25, 17, 22, 15)
Records: Blazers 8-8, 1-4 (GNAC) | Pilgrims 6-11, 3-2 (GNAC) 

Match 2
Score: Elms College 0 (20, 25, 20) | Western New England University 3 (25, 27, 25)
Records: Blazers 8-9, 0-0 (GNAC) | Golden Bears 8-12, 1-3 (CNE)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Match 1
The first set would see Elms score the opening two points of the match, but New England College would then take the lead. As the set continued, juniors Lilliana Simmons (Springfield, Mass.), Quiana Gibbs (Porterville, Calif.), seniors Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.), and Angelica Marks (Miami, Fla.) would each record multiple kills, but the Pilgrims would continue to hold onto their lead. As NEC looked to expand their lead, Marks would record two service aces and a kill to take a short-lived lead in the favor of the Blazers. As the set neared its end, Elms would see kills by Simmons, senior Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, N.M), Q.Gibbs, and Izquierdo, but the Pilgrims would win the opening set 25-21.

The second set would begin by Holman scoring a service ace, followed by Simmons adding a kill, but the New England offense would continue to control the momentum early on. Throughout the set, the Blazers would have first year Ryan Busby (Mount Kisco, N.Y.), senior Alejandra Marin (Dorado, Puerto Rico), Holman, Simmons, Izquierdo, and Marks record a combined six kills, but the Pilgrims would win their second straight set 25-13.

The third set would then start with a different story, as Simmons, Izquierdo, and Q.Gibbs make five kills to take a 5-1 lead. Shortly thereafter, Q.Gibbs and Marks would make a block and six kills to extend their lead. NEC would add some offense during the set to bring themselves within reach of taking a lead, but five kills from Simmons, Q.Gibbs, Marks, and Holman would help Elms win the set 25-17, and bring the match to two sets to one.

The Pilgrims would start the fourth set with the early advantage, but the Blazers would answer quickly with the assistance of two kills and a service ace from Izquierdo to take a 5-4 lead. The two conference foes would battle early, with Marks, Izquierdo adding kills, Q.Gibbs adding two service aces, followed by Marks adding a service ace of her own, and a block by her and Izquierdo. As the fourth set neared its end, as NEC looked to extend the set to earn the conference victory, the Blazers would not be put away easily, with kills by Izquierdo, Q.Gibbs, and sophomore Olivia Rivera (Springfield, Mass.) would help Elms win their second straight set 25-22, and tie the match two sets each to force a fifth and final set.

The fifth and final set would see the Pilgrims with the early advantage, taking an 8-2 lead. The Blazers would have kills from Simmons, Izquierdo, Marks, and Q.Gibbs throughout the set, but New England College would win the set 15-8 and take home the conference victory three sets to two.

Match 2
Elms would begin the first set with the early 8-2 advantage, with the assistance of kills by first year Amanda Cabrera (Greenwich, Conn.) and Q.Gibbs, along with a service ace from first year Samantha Haug (Union, N.J.). But as the set continued Western New England would be awoken and quickly take the lead from Elms after scoring five-straight points to tie the set 8-8, then scoring a second set of five-straight points to take a 13-11 lead. The Blazers would not be deterred by their WNE neighbors, with Holman adding a kill and a service ace, along with a service ace by Q.Gibbs, a pair of kills from Simmons and Izquierdo. Unfortunately, the Golden Bears would hold onto their lead and win the set 25-20.

The second set would once again see Elms score first, but the two sides would battle early for the first major lead. With multiple kills by Izquierdo, Q.Gibbs, Haug, Marks, and Cabrera, blocks from Cabrera and Izquierdo, along with four service aces by Marks and Simmons, would help the Blazers record 25 points during the set. However, Western New England would score 27 points in the second set and win their second-straight set.

The third and final set would see the Golden Bears score first, but with back-to-back kills from Izquierdo, Elms would tie the set quickly at 2-2. The WNE offense would then take the lead and continue to add to it. Even with Izquierdo and Cabrera adding multiple kills, a block, and a service ace, along with a service ace from junior Caitlyn Flynn (Colchester, Conn.) and kills by Holman and Simmons, the Blazers would not be able to gain a lead over their neighboring rivals and the Golden Bears would win the set 25-20 and secure the sweep victory over Elms.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Busby - a kill and a dig.

• Cabrera - three kills, three blocks, three assists, a service ace, and a dig.

• Flynn - a service ace.

• Q.Gibbs - 30 digs, 16 kills, three service aces, an assist, and a block assist.

• Haug - 25 digs, two assists, a kill, and a service ace.

• Holman - 58 assists, 35 digs, five kills, and two service aces.

• Izquierdo - 27 kills, 15 digs, three block assists, a service ace, and an assist.

• Marin - three digs and a kill.

• Marks - 10 kills, six service aces, three blocks, three digs, and an assist.

• Moore - 27 digs and four assists.

• Rivera - three digs and a kill.

• Simmons - 20 digs, 12 kills, and a service ace.

UP NEXT: The Elms Women's Volleyball team will travel to Nashua, N.H. to face Rivier University in a conference match on Wednesday, October 15th at 7 pm.

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