FREDERICK, Md. - The Hood College men's volleyball team jumped out to a 13-3 lead in the third set, the largest lead in the program's first four matches, but could not hold off Elizabethtown in a non-conference match.
Set Scores
- The Blue Jays won in straight sets over the Blazers 25-17, 25-18, 25-21.
Inside the Box Score
- Marc Fitzkee (York, Pa./Central York) and Will Javier Rojas (Reading, Pa./Reading) tied for a team-high with nine kills. Fitzkee added eight digs and a pair of solo blocks to his evening.
- Adam Bartice (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) dished out 15 assists.
- Dan Blanchfield (Cambridge, N.Y./Cambridge Central) finished with three aces.
How it Happened
- After dropping the first two sets, Hood turned in a strong start to the third set. Javier Rojas had four kills and Blanchfield served all three of his aces during a 13-3 opening to the set.
- Hood still led by nine, 15-6, after a kill from Fitzkee before the Blue Jays came storming back.
- Elizabethtown finished the set and match with a 19-6 run that featured two aces apiece by Logan Smith and Ethan Scott to win the set and the match.
- Fitzkee recorded a block on the match's opening point, but Elizabethtown quickly stole the momentum to go ahead 11-4.
- The Blazers pulled within five twice at 11-6 and 14-9 but the Blue Jays scored five of the next seven points to lead 19-11 on a kill by Cheston Jacobs. Hood once again cut the deficit to five, 22-17, before three straight points by Elizabethtown closed the first set.
- Fitzkee had a kill for the opening point of the second set, followed by an ace from Bartice and another Fitzkee block for a 3-0 lead.
- Hood led 4-2 before three straight errors gave the Blue Jays a 5-4 lead.
- Javier Rojas tied the match with a kill, but Etown scored three consecutive points and the Blazers never got closer than two points the rest of the set as the Blue Jays went ahead 2-0.
Analysis
- Elizabethtown hit .450 in the second set, but Hood held the Blue Jays under .200 in the other two sets. The Blazers overcame a tough first set hitting to get outhit just .247 to .029.
- Hood held a 28-25 edge in digs.
For the Opponent
- Smith and Blake Hildebrand led Etown with nine kills apiece. Smith added four aces to his night.
- Scott paced the Blue Jays with 15 assists.
Up Next
Hood travels to Mount Aloysius on Feb. 4.
