FREDERICK, Md.-- The Elizabethtown men's volleyball team recorded 18 total blocks across two matches, Saturday afternoon to defeat Hood, 3-0 and then Randolph, 3-2. 

GAME 1: ELIZABETHTOWN 3, HOOD 0
Men's volleyball was off to a strong start Saturday afternoon, sweeping host Hood, 3-0. As a team the Blue Jays recorded eight total blocks (14 BA, 1 BS) to land tied for 10^th in single match records while freshman Braydon Ambruster recorded five block assists putting himself tied for 3^rd in a single match. Logan Smith and Arun Gopinath each tallied eight kills while Smith also grabbed five digs.  

The first set was close to start until Elizabethtown pulled ahead 13-9 after tallying five straight. The two teams traded points, but Etown continued to hold the lead. Hood would record four in a row bringing the score to 21-17. The Blazers would come within three of the Jays but kills from Gopinath and Mason Boyer would seal the 25-22 win.

The Blue Jays kept their momentum going as they rolled to a 12-6 lead while combing for three blocks on a four-point run. Gopinath, Ambruster, and Smith each smacked down a kill before some Blazer errors to put the team up, 17-11. Hood would manage to come within four of Etown towards the end of the set. Three of the final four Blue Jays points were at the hands of Hood errors which gave Etown the 25-18 win.

Set three was a little tighter to start before Elizabethtown would double their lead to 10-5. A block by Josh McCoy and Gopinath along with a Smith kill extended the Jays lead to 12-6. After some back-n-forth Etown continued to hold a double-digit lead following kills from Gopinath and McCoy. Hood began to creep closer but wasn't able to take the lead as Etown won the final set, 25-18.

GAME TWO: ELIZABETHTOWN 3, RANDOLPH 2
Elizabethtown struggled to get going against first year program Randolph College as they dropped the first set, 25-15. Etown got back into a rhythm in set two leading 10-7 after a Gopinath kill and Ambruster ace. The Blue Jays continued to lead after two Randolph errors sandwiched a Craig Patrick kill. To finish off the set, Gopinath, Declan Keller, Smith, McCoy, and Patrick contributed kills to earn the 25-21 win.

Etown went on to take set three 25-23 to take a 2-1 lead over the Wildcats. The Blue Jays jumped out to a 10-3 early lead. Two straight Gopinath aces then put up the Jays, 16-9. Randolph then went on an 8-1 run to tie up the set at 18. Through the rest of the set the two teams traded points but Etown was able to come out on top, 25-23 as Patrick smacked down the final point.

Set four was tight throughout but Elizabethtown couldn't hold on as they fell, 27-25 to force a fifth set. The Blue Jays got back in it in set five taking a 6-2 lead to start after four straight. Randolph then took a 7-6 lead after rattling off five in a row. After the switch at 8-7 the Jays were able to keep the lead and win 15-12.

Gopinath led the match with 14 kills, three aces and eight digs. Smith totaled 10 kills and five digs. Ambruster tallied 41 assists, three block assists, and four digs.
The Blue Jays return home for the week as they host Stevenson on Tuesday, January 21 at 7 pm.