Women's Volleyball Splits Tri-Match with a Sweep Over Fitchburg State

FITCHBURG, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Volleyball team traveled to Fitchburg State University for a non-conference tri-match against Gordon College and the Falcons on Saturday afternoon.

BASICS
Match 1
Score: Elms College 0 (13, 11, 20) | Gordon College 3 (25, 25, 25)
Records: Blazers 4-3, 0-0 (GNAC) | Fighting Scots 7-3, 0-0 (CNE)

Match 2
Score: Elms College 3 (25, 25, 25) | Fitchburg State University 0 (23, 18, 13)
Records: Blazers 5-3, 0-0 (GNAC) | Falcons 0-7, 0-0 (MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Match 1
The first set would begin with Gordon taking an early six-point lead, but Elms would see a kill from senior Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.) and a service ace by graduate student Alyssa Moore (Ludlow, Mass.). As the set continued, the Fighting Scots would add to their lead, but Izquierdo would add four kills and a service ace, along with a kill from junior Lilliana Simmons (Springfield, Mass.). Unfortunately, Gordon would win the opening set 25-13.

The second set would start with a similar narrative, as the Fighting Scots added to their lead, the Blazers would make their efforts heard. This would include two kills by first-year Naiima Mack (Baltimore, Md.), a kill and service ace from Izquierdo, along with a block by Mack and sophomore Olivia Rivera (Springfield, Mass.). But Gordon would once again win the set 25-11, to bring their lead to two sets to zero.

The third and final set would see Mack record the first point, after making a kill, but Gordon would once again take over the set, even with a pair of kills from Mack and a Izquierdo service ace.  As the set continued, the Elms offense would try to create rallies to get back into the match, with the assistance of kills by Simmons and Izquierdo, but the Fighting Scots would take a large 21-9 lead. As Gordon looked to put away their intrastate opponent, the Blazers would rally back to bring the score within five points, with the help of a block from senior Angelica Marks (Miami, Fla.) and Mack, kills by Izquierdo, Marks, Rivera, and Simmons, and service aces from Izquierdo, Marks, and senior Jaylen Holman (Las Cruces, N.M.). Unfortunately, these late efforts would not last for long, as the Fighting Scots would defeat Elms 25-20 and secure the sweep 3-0.

Match 2
The first set would see the Blazers take an early four-point lead, with the help of kills by Izquierdo and Mack, along with a service ace from Moore. Fitchburg State would put up rallies of their own, but Elms would continue to add to their lead, with a kill by Holman and a pair of Holman-Marks blocks. As the set continued, the Falcons would take the lead momentarily, but kills from Simmons, Izaquierdo, along with service aces by Holman, Izquierdo, Marks, Moore, and first-year Samantha Haug (Union, N.J.), to win the opening set 25-22.

The second set would see an early battle between the two intrastate foes, with Moore recording a service ace for the first point, along with kills by junior Quiana Gibbs (Porterville, Calif.) and Haug. The Blazers would capitalize on errors made by FSU, but they would still create their own momentum with a service ace from Haug and kills by Q.Gibbs and Marks to secure a lead in the set. From there, Elms would continue to add to their new lead, with the assistance of five-straight points, back-to-back kills by Izquierdo and Holman, along with a pair of service aces from Marks. As the set neared its end. Fitchburg State tried to cut down their opponent's lead, but those efforts would cut short due to kills from Simmons and Q.Gibbs, and a service ace by Moore, to win the set 25-18 and take a two set lead.

The third and final set would once again begin with a five-point lead by Elms, with the help of two kills from Izquierdo, a kill from Holman, and a service ace by Moore. As the set moved along, the Blazers would continue to add to their lead, with a kill from Q.Gibbs and two kills by Simmons playing a role. Then following a kill by Izquierdo, Q.Gibbs would make three-straight service aces to help extend the Elms lead over the Falcons. As FSU looked to create a late rally, a block by Marks and Rivera would close out the set, to help the Blazers win the set 25-13 and secure the sweep over Fitchburg State to split the day 1-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Q.Gibbs - 23 digs, four kills, and three service aces.

• Haug - 15 digs, two service aces, and a kill.

• Holman - 31 assists, 17 digs, five service aces, three kills, and three block assists.

• Izquierdo - 24 digs, 19 kills, five service aces, and two assists.

• Mack - seven kills and five digs.

• Marin - five digs and an assist.

• Marks - seven digs, three kills, two assists, four service aces, and four block assists.

• Moore - 22 digs, six service aces, and five assists.

• Palacios - four digs and two assists.

• Rivera - three kills and two digs.

• Simmons - nine kills and four digs.

UP NEXT: The Elms Women's Volleyball team will return to Picknelly Arena on Tuesday, September 16th and faceoff against Bay Path University at 6 pm.

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