Matthew Buffum ’18 lifted the 15th-ranked Elmira men to a pair of victories at the Nazareth College Invitational on Saturday in Rochester, New York. The product of Chesterfield, Missouri, paced the Purple and Gold with eight blocks and a .481 hitting percentage over the weekend, in addition to being second on the team with 30 kills.
Buffum kicked off play at the event with 12 kills, six digs, two blocks and an ace, all while maintaining a .526 attacking percentage in a 3-1 victory over D’Youville College. The 6-foot-7-inch middle blocker stood tallest in the second match of the day against Medaille College, as he floored a season-high 18 kills and committed just two errors, which resulted in a .457 hitting percentage. He also tallied six blocks in the bout to lead all players. Buffum’s leadership was best exhibited in the critical fifth set, as he accounted for three of EC’s final five points to seal the 3-2 triumph.
On the heels of his breakout junior campaign, Buffum has been just as good as a senior. In 20 matches this year, the reigning United Volleyball Conference (UVC) All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree leads the UVC in total blocks with 89 and ranks fourth with a .421 attack percentage. His 1.10 blocks per set are on pace to top his career-best 0.84 average from a year ago.
Buffum and the No. 15-ranked Soaring Eagles fly into one of their toughest test of the season this Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11, when they head to a UVC tri-match hosted by New York University. At the event, Elmira will challenge the host Violets of No. 9 NYU at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, before facing No. 3 Stevens Institute of Technology the following day at 11:00 a.m.
