Greenville, PA – The Elmira College Men's Volleyball team won its first two matches on the opening day of the Thiel College AVI Invitational on Saturday. EC fought off host Thiel College 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 23-25, 31-33, 15-11) and cruised to victory over Mount Saint Joseph's 3-0 (25-12, 28-26, 25-16). With the two wins the Soaring Eagles improve to 8-4 overall on the season.

 

In its first match against Thiel, EC started off well winning the first set pretty handily, 25-18, then controlling the end of the second set to win it 25-22 and take a 2-0 set lead. However, the Tomcats came out fighting in the third and fourth set overtaking the Soaring Eagles to force a fifth set. In the fifth set Elmira prevailed holding off the Tomcats once again to end the match.  

 

Against Mount Saint Joseph's, Elmira proved to be too tough, dominating play in the first and third sets. The Lions fought hard in the second set forcing the Soaring Eagles to prove itself late. However, the Purple and Gold held off the Lions to prevail 28-26 in the second set, and easily won the third set to close out the match.

 

Ryan Gelenitis '14 (Brick, NJ -- Christian Brothers Academy) led the Soaring Eagle offense registering 34 kills, 10 digs and five blocks in the two matches. Michael Vellutato '14 (Topanga, CA -- Redondo Union) proved to be a machine dishing 97 assists, eight digs and five blocks. Other tremendous contributors to the Soaring Eagle attack were Wyatt Hamilton '15 (Jupiter, FL -- Suncoast), Mike Stianche '15 (Bethlehem, PA -- Bethlehem Catholic), Eric Sandmann '14 (Glennville, NY -- Burnt Hills) and Ladislav Lelkes '15 (Bratislava, SVK -- Esprit). Hamilton contributed 17 kills and nine digs, while Stianche tallied 15 kills and 12 digs. Sandmann and Lelkes tallied 13 kills apiece and combined for 11 digs.

 

The Elmira College Men's Volleyball team returns to action tomorrow for Day 2 of the Thiel College AVI Invitational when they play Stevenson University at 1:00 p.m.