Women's Volleyball Splits Home Tri-Match Against AMCats and Raiders

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Volleyball team hosted Anna Maria College and Rivier University in a conference tri-match on Saturday.

BASICS
Match 1
Score: Elms College 3 (24, 25, 25, 25) | Anna Maria College 1 (26, 8, 12, 20)
Records: Blazers 3-21, 2-9 (GNAC) | AMCats 1-24, 0-10 (GNAC)

Match 2
Score: Elms College 0 (17, 20, 13) | Rivier University 3 (25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 3-22, 2-10 (GNAC) | Raiders 13-14, 8-5 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Match 1
The opening set would begin with a rally by the two conference foes, leading to a 4-4 tie, after a service ace by junior Alejandra Marin (Dorado, P.R.) and kills by junior Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.) and sophomore Quiana Gibbs (Porterville, Cali.). Anna Maria would then take the lead after earning seven-straight points, but back-to-back service aces from junior Angelica Marks (Miami, Fla.) and a kill from senior Francesca Dirienzo (West Springfield, Mass.) would hit the pause button for the AMCats' lead. AMC would continue adding to their lead, but Elms would quickly answer back after kills from Izquierdo and Gibbs, along with back-to-back service aces and a block by Marks. The Blazers would force a late rally to bring the score back to a tie, after service aces from Marks and junior Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, N.M.) and kills by Gibbs and Dirienzo, but the AMCats would win the first set 26-24.

The second set would see Anna Maria earn an early 3-0 lead, but Elms would quickly respond by taking a 9-5 lead, after kills by Dirienzo, Izquierdo, and Gibbs, along with a service ace by Dirienzo. The Blazers would continue to add to their lead with the assistance of service aces from Izquierdo and Gibbs, along with kills by Izquierdo and Marks. But the end of the second set would see five-straight service aces by Marks along with a kill from Izquierdo, and Elms would even the match 1-1, taking the second set 25-8.

The third set would see the Blazers with an early 12-4 lead, after kills from Dirienzo, Izquierdo, Marks, and Gibbs, along with a service ace by Holman. AMC would try to fight back, but the Elms offense would be too much and would see the Blazers winning the third set 25-12, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The fourth and final set would be controlled early by the AMCats earning a 10-6 lead. But Elms would once again see their way past the pressure from their opposition, bringing the score to 16-14. The Blazers would then take the lead after a six-point rally to take the lead, with the assistance of three-straight kills by Marin and Marks. Elms would continue adding to their lead and defeat AMC 25-20, and would pick up their third win of the 2024 season 3-1.

Match 2

The start of the second match would start off with an early 4-4 tie, after seeing a service ace by Marks and back-to-back kills from Izquierdo. Rivier would begin to add to their lead, but Elms would answer quickly by making kills or causing their opponent to commit errors. The Blazers would try to answer back, including a block by Holman and first year Kaley Campbell, but the Raiders would score 14-points to capture the opening set 25-17.

The second set would begin with an early 3-0 lead for Elms, after Rivier committed three-straight errors. The Raiders would then hop back onto the saddle by taking the lead and keeping the Blazers at an arm's length distance, only seeing service aces by Marin and Izquierdo and a handful of kills from Holman, Izquierdo, Gibbs, and Dirienzo. Unfortunately, Rivier would win the second set 25-20.

The third and final set would begin with a service ace from Holman, but the Raiders would once again take over the lead. Elms would see kills from Izquierdo, Dirienzo, Gibbs, and Marks throughout the set, but Rivier would once again control the third set that would not see the Blazers on the offensive, and the Raiders would win the set 25-13, and would sweep Elms for a 3-0 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Izquierdo made 21 kills, nine digs, three blocks, two service aces, and an assist.

• Gibbs committed 21 digs, 17 kills, and two service aces.

• Holman recorded 52 assists, 14 digs, two service aces, and a kill with two blocks assisted.

• Marks created 11 service aces, eight kills, and 14 digs, along with a block and a block assisted.

• Marin generated 25 digs, six service aces, and five kills.

• Dirienzo had nine kills, two digs, and a service ace.

• First year Maria Codianni (Waterbury, Conn.) made eight digs and three assists.

• Campbell added a block assist and a dig to her season totals.

UP NEXT: The Elms Women's Volleyball team will host Norwich University in a conference match on Wednesday, Nov. 6th at 6 PM for their annual Senior Night at Picknelly Arena.

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