Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Men's Volleyball team split its two matches on the second day of the Elmira College Invitational, Sunday in Speidel Gymnasium. The Soaring Eagles dropped a tough three-set match to 13th ranked SUNY New Paltz (13-25, 15-25, 20-25), before sweeping Hilbert College 3-0 (25-19, 25-9, 25-17) in its second match. The split improves the Soaring Eagles to 3-2 overall on the season.

Elmira trailed early 14-7 in its opening match of the day against SUNY New Paltz and fell 25-13. The Hawks continued to pound on the attack in the second set, cruising 25-15. The Soaring Eagles were up four midway through the third set but New Paltz stormed back to take the lead at 21-18, and eventually survived 25-20 to take the match in straight sets.

Mike Stianche '15 (Bethlehem, PA -- Bethlehem) and Tyler Smith '15 (North Syracuse, NY -- Cicero-North Syracuse) led EC with seven kills apiece, while Michael Vellutato '14 (Topanga, CA -- Redondo Union) dished out 24 assists. Ryan Gelenitis '14 (Brick, NJ -- Christian Brothers Academy) and Nick Scalia '15 (Huntingdon, PA -- Huntingdon) led the Soaring Eagles with five digs each.

In its second match of the day the Purple and Gold got off to a good start, downing Hilbert College 25-19 in the opening set. EC seized the momentum from its first set victory to cruise to a second set win, 25-9. The third set proved to be much of the same as the Soaring Eagles showed their dominance, winning 25-16.

Wyatt Hamilton '15 (Jupiter, FL -- Suncoast) led EC with eight kills in the second match, while Ladislav Lelkes '15 (Bratislava, SVK -- Esprit) added six. Vellutato proved to be a catalyst once again, dishing out 16 assists and adding a team-high four digs.

Elmira returns to action Friday when they travel to Rochester for the Nazareth tournament, where they will take on MIT before having a rematch with Juniata College.


SUNY New Paltz 3 Elmira 0 Elmira 3 Hilbert 0