THE BASICS 

Score: Elms 3, Emerson 0 

Records: Emerson Lions (5-17, 3-10 GNAC); Elms Blazers (12-13, 8-6 GNAC)

Location: Chicopee, Mass. (Picknelly Arena)

Date: March 29, 2022

The Lead: Sophomore Neiko Pittman had 15 kills and Freshman Bayden Slavik contributed 27 assists but the Lions were unable to hold off Elms on Tuesday night as they lost in straight sets.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON 

Neiko Pittman: 15 kills, 12 digs, 2 blocks

Bayden Slavik: 27 assists, 7 digs

Jack Miessner: 8 kills

Bryson Beck: 11 digs

ELMS

Carlos Mercado: 19 kills, 7 digs, 1 block

Pedro De Jesus: 11 kills, 2 blocks

Antonio Delgado Rolon: 41 assists

HOW IT HAPPENED 

SET ONE 

• The first set was tight as neither team was able to pull away by more than 2 points and the score was locked at 15-15.
• With the score tied at 15 apiece, the Lions were able to capture the momentum when a kill by Sophomore Neiko Pittman gave Emerson a 4-point advantage at 21-17.
• Another kill by Pittman would give Emerson set point at 24-19 before Elms battelled back with 5 straight points to tie the set at 24-24.
• A kill by Elms and an error for the Lions would give Elms an extra-point win at 26-24.

SET TWO

• The Lions were not discouraged as they opened the 2^nd set with scoring 4 straight points and jumping out to a 4-0 lead.
• Elms battled back and eventually tied the set up at 9-9 before the Lions reclaimed a 1-point lead at 10-9 on an error by the Blazers.
• Elms would answer with a 6 straight points; giving them a 15-10 advantage.
• Elms would continue to slowly build their lead through the remainder of the set, before an error by the Lions would secure a 25-18 set victory for the Blazers.

SET THREE

• The Lions were once gain able to jump out to an early lead to begin the 3^rd set; leading by as many as 4 points.
• A Kill by Freshman Jack Miessner would give the Lions an 11-7 lead, before Elms rattled off 4 unanswered points to tie the set at 11-11.
• The Lions would reclaim the lead at 15-13, but Elms would again rattle off 7 straight points; taking a 20-15 lead.
• A kill by Elms would give them match point at 24-19 but the Lions would not go down without a fight as kills by Pittman, Miessner, and Senior Josh Elliot would bring the Lions all the way back to a 24-24 tie.
• Unfortunately for the Lions a kill by Elms, followed by a Lions error would seal a 26-24 set victory and a 3-0 match victory for the Blazers.

UP NEXT

The Lions remain on the road as they head to Rivier for another GNAC conference battle on Thursday, March 31 at 7pm.