Griffins win second five-set match in a row

Chicopee, Mass. - Fontbonne men's volleyball won their second five-set match in as many days, taking down Elms College 17-25, 25-16, 25-18, 27-29 and 15-12. The Griffins are now 13-9 on the season.

Fontbonne got off to a rocky starting, scoring just one point to Elms' 10 in the opening faceoff. The Griffins pulled within five (17-22) but the Blazers scored three straight to get the upper hand.

The Griffins opened strong in the second set and after trailing 3-2, scored five unanswered to lead 7-3 and led for the remainder to get the win. Third-set play was much tighter as the Griffins found themselves trailing 10-13 until Elms was called for an illegal substitution. That play gave the Griffins six points and the lead. The Griffins extended their lead to 20-14 and never looked back. 

In the fourth set with Fontbonne trying to close the win, points exchanged the entire set with 21 ties. Elms led 24-22 until Brendon Schwartze laid down a kill and Gabe Grote an ace to extend to a Griffin 25-24 lead. Elms led 27-26 but a service error tied the game once more. The host team stayed alive and forced a fifth set with two kills.

The Griffins led 4-2 in the final frame before Elms secured a 5-4 lead from two kills and an ace. Fontbonne responded with three points themselves to regain the two-point advantage. Two Elms errors gave Fontbonne a 13-9 lead and eventually the 15-12 win.

Stephen Lendy led Fontbonne with 18 kills while Jimmy Stika tallied 11 digs and Grote 10 digs. Jacob Lendy assisted 42 times while Emir Hadzisalihovic totaled five blocks.

The Griffins are back in action Friday at Lesley for a 6 p.m. contest.