Men's Volleyball Lose to Regis in Season Opener

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted Regis College for a non-conference match on Friday evening in their 2026 season opener at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 0 (14, 17, 22) | Regis College 3 (25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 0-1, 0-0 (GNAC) | Pride 1-0, 0-0 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set would start with Regis scoring the first two points, along with two additional points shortly thereafter, but junior Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.) would make two big kills, both assisted by sophomore Hunter Ladouceur (Wilbraham, Mass.), to bring the set score to 4-2. The Pride would continue to add five points to their lead, but the Blazers would nip at the heels of their conference foes following kills by first year Joe Culhane (Agawam, Mass.), junior John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.), and Ladouceur. Unfortunately, Regis would score an additional ten points to earn a substantial lead, but Elms would see additional kills by Uschmann and first year John Centeno Pagan (Manatí, P.R.), but the Pride would win the set 25-14.

The second set would begin by the Blazers capitalizing on an error by their opposition, but Regis would score four-straight points. Elms would then see kills by senior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain) and Culhane, along with a block by Bellafronte and Uschmann, to bring the score to within a point, 7-6. The Pride would then add nine points, before sophomore Yazhua Marin Valentin (Springfield, Mass.) and Centeno Pagan would each record a service ace, followed by two kills from Culhane, to begin a late rally that would bring the score to within seven points, with additional kills by first year David Dzhenzherukha (Agawam, Mass.) and Culhane. But Regis would once again win the set 25-17.

The third and final set would start with the Pride outscoring the Blazers 6-1, but Elms would try to create some momentum with a combined three kills by Uschmann, first year Xavier Lozado (Springfield, Mass.), and Artero, along with a service ace from Artero and a Bellafronte block, to bring the score to within three points, 10-7. The two intrastate foes would then battle until the very end of the set, with Elms capitalizing on a block by Bellafronte and Uschmann, and eight kills from Uschmann, Lozado, Dzhenzherukha, Artero, and Culhane. Unfortunately, the late rally would not be enough, as Regis would win the set 25-21 and win the first match of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Bousquet - 11 digs and an assist.

• Dzhenzherukhu - eight assists, three kills, and a dig.

• Ladouceur - seven assists, three digs, and a kill.

• Uschmann - six kills, three digs, two block assists, and an assist.

• Culhane - six kills, four digs, and two assists.

• Artero - four kills, a service ace, a dig, and an assist.

• Lozado - three digs and two digs.

• Bellafronte - three blocks, two digs, and a kill.

• Centeno Pagan - a kill, a service ace, and a dig.

• Marin Valentin - a service ace and an ace.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will travel to Purchase, N.Y. for a non-conference tri-match at SUNY Purchase and Lehman College on Tuesday, January 13th at 12 & 2 pm.

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