Chicopee, Mass. - March 24, 2021 -  The Springfield College men's volleyball team returned to the court on Wednesday evening against local-foe Elms College and battled their way to a three-game sweep by the scores of 25-18, 25-21, 25-22.

Springfield, which last competed on March 14, entered the match once again ranked No. 1 in the country in this week's AVCA Division III National Coaches Poll.  The Pride improved to 3-0 on the season, while the Blazers slipped to 2-1.

As a team, the Pride hit .439 in the victory and limited the hosts to hitting just .111 on the evening.  Jarrett Anderson (San Jose, Calif.) and Brennen Brandow (Manorville, N.Y.) each totaled 11 kills, while Liam York (Kailua, Hawaii) added eight kills of his own. Nate Reynolds (Baltimore, Md.) racked up seven kills on nine errorless attempts in the middle and Thomas Wollweber (Oceanside, N.Y.) tallied a match-best five blocks.  Matt Lilley (Stony Brook, N.Y.) and Austin Richards (Manchester, Pa.) combined for 39 assists. 

Jeremy Torres had 18 of the Blazers 29 kills as Carlos Mercado was credited with 23 assists.  Elms benefitted from 21 Springfield service errors as Springfield owned a 56.0-33.0 advantage in points scored.

Anderson and York each totaled three kills in the opener as the Pride hit .360 as a team and held the Blazers to a -.100 hitting percentage.  Leading 11-10, Springfield used a 5-1 to seize control following an attack error by Elms, and the Pride would push its lead to as many as seven points, as York closed out the frame with a kill for the 25-18 win. 

The Pride stormed out to a 14-5 lead in the second as York bounced back-to-back overpasses to force the hosts into a timeout. Elms would battle their way back to get as close as 23-20, only to have Brandow rip his fifth kill of the set off the block for the 25-21 win. 

Springfield totaled 18 kills at a .536 hitting percentage in the third set.  Leading 9-7, the Pride used a sideout kill from Brandow before Reynolds closed for a solo block and added a kill in transition as the Blazers whistled for another timeout.  The visitors advantaged would balloon to 17-9, but Elms would hang tough behind the play of Torres and knot things up at 21-all.  However, Anderson and Brandow would give the Pride back the momentum as they each put away kills and Anderson would eventually give Springfield match point at 24-22.  Elms would then commit their 21st attack error of the night as Springfield claimed the three-set victory. 

Springfield will now prepare for a two-game series versus Nichols, beginning on Friday night at 7 pm in Blake Arena.  No spectators will be allowed.

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