Nighthawks Sweep Tri-Match

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Newbury College men's volleyball team swept Elms College, 3-1, and Mt. Ida College, 3-1, in Saturday afternoon's tri-match. Senior Max Daley (Cranson, R.I./Cranston) led the Nighthawks to victory registering 21 kills in two matches. Freshman Dan Davison (Howell, N.J./Howell) followed up, recording 12 kills and six blocks (2 solo and four assisted).

Newbury improves to 4-5 on the season, 1-1 in theNortheast Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) and 1-0 in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action.

Match 1 – Newbury 3, Elms 1

In the opening contest, Rainey downed 10 kills and junior opposite hitter Michael Kleckner (Bethlehem, Pa.) added nine kills to lead Elms in the loss.

The Blazers, who won the first set 25-15 behind stellar setting from freshmen setters Kevin Welsh (Wilbraham, Mass.) and Daniel Lebron (San Juan, Puerto Rico), lost the next three sets as Newbury's Matt Talamantes (Los Angeles, Calif.) paced the Nighthawks' offensive attack with 28 assists.

Daley paved the way with nine kills against the Blazers, while James Beck (Havre De Grace, Md.) chipped in with a team-best 10 digs and downed seven service aces. Davison added three assisted blocks to help secure the victory.

Welsh dished out 14 assists, while Lebron handed out 13 helpers in the losing effort. Rainey finished with a match-high 11 digs in addition to 10 kills.

Match 2 – Newbury 3, Mount Ida 1

Newbury took an early 2-0 lead in its 3-1 victory over Mount Ida as the Nighthawks used high-percentage offense from Daley and Talamantes who downed 12 and 10 kills respectively in the contest. Talamantes added 14 assists while Alex Amylon (Scituate, R.I.) dished out 11 to help pace the Nighthawks.

The Mustangs won the third frame 25-20, but Newbury pulled away in the fourth set with a 25-18 win to seal it's second straight 3-1 victory of the day. 

The Mustangs were led by Thomas Belton (Springfield, Mass.) who downed a team-high 10 kills, while Shane Wilson (Gloucester, Mass.) distributed a match-best 29 assists and added eight digs.

Belton and Ricky Oliveira (New Bedford, Mass.) totaled nine digs each, while Belton assisted on three blocks in the loss.

- Game photo by: Samantha Yanofsky

- Game story provided by: Christopher Attwood, Sports Information Director - Elms College