Men's Volleyball Sweeps Badgers at Home

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Volleyball team hosted Vermont State University-Johnson for a non-conference match on Friday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 3 (25, 25, 25) | Vermont State University-Johnson 0 (17, 12, 14)
Records: Blazers 3-1, 0-0 (GNAC) | Badgers 0-1, 0-0 (NEVC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set would begin when Vermont State-Johnson scored the first four points, followed by a kill from junior Nick Uschmann (Agawam, Mass.), assisted by first year David Dzhenzherukha (Agawam, Mass.). The Badgers and Blazers would then trade blows, with five additional kills by Uschmann, first year Xavier Lozado (Springfield, Mass.), and junior John Bellafronte (Enfield, Conn.), along with a service ace by Uschmann and a block from Bellafronte and Dzhenzherukha, to take the lead 9-7. The two non-conference foes would continue to trade points, with Lozado recording a kill and a service ace, followed by first year Joe Culhane (Agawam, Mass.) and Uschmann each recording a kill. Shortly thereafter, Culhane, Uschmann, and Bellafronte would add a combined five kills, along with a service ace by Bellafronte, to win the first set 25-17 for Elms.

The second set would start with the Blazers offense taking an early five-point lead, with the assistance from a kill by senior Rafa Artero (Madrid, Spain) and a Dzhenzherukha service ace. The VTSU-J offense would try to create some momentum to battle back into the set, but Elms would continue to keep control of the set following six combined kills from Artero, Lozado, Bellafronte, and Culhane, along with a service ace by Uschmann. As the set neared its end, the Badgers would continue their efforts to create some positive offensive energy, but the Blazers would continue to put a stop to it. Seeing kills by Culhane, Dzhenzherukha, Uschmann, sophomore Yazhua Marin Valentin (Springfield, Mass.), and Bellafronte, along with a service ace from Culhane, and would take the second set 25-12.

The third and final set would see the two opposing teams trade points early, but Elms would take the first major lead following back-to-back kills by Bellafronte and Culhane, followed by a Dzhenzherukha kill shortly thereafter. VTSU-J would add a kill, but Culhane would score four-straight points for his team, recording back-to-back kills and back-to-back service aces, to take a six-point lead. The Badgers would continue their efforts to generate some momentum, but the Blazers would continue to control the narrative of the set, seeing a combined six kills from Bellafronte, Artero, Culhane, and Marin Valentin, along with a Culhane service ace and a final block by Dzhenzherukha and Artero to win their third straight set, 25-14, to win the match.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dzhenzherukha - 30 assists, five digs, two kills, two block assists, and a service ace.

• Bousquet - nine digs and two assists.

• Culhane - eight kills, four service aces, four digs, and an assist.

• Bellafronte - eight kills, a service ace, a dig, and a block assist.

• Uschmann - seven kills, four digs, two service aces, and an assist.

• Lozado - seven kills, a service ace, and three digs.

• Artero - five digs, three kills, and a block assist.

• Marin Valentin - two kills and two digs.

• Sánchez - two digs.

• Tompkins - an assist and a dig.

UP NEXT: The Elms Men's Volleyball team will return to Picknelly Arena for a non-conference match to host Sage College on Wednesday, January 21st at 7 pm.

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