Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Men's Volleyball team fought back but ultimately fell in four sets, 3-1 (19-25, 19-25, 28-26, 16-25), to visiting Medaille College Wednesday evening in Speidel Gymnasium. The win improves the No. 9 Mavericks to 18-6 overall and 8-3 in the United Volleyball conference, while the loss drops the No. 13 Soaring Eagles to 18-14 overall and 6-5 in conference competition.
Medaille got out to a 15-10 lead in the first set as EC made some unforced errors and struggled to find its rhythm against the Mavericks. Medaille would hold on down the stretch to prevail 25-19 in the opening frame. Elmira continued to find the Maverick offense tough early in the second set as it fell behind 13-7, forcing a Soaring Eagle time out. The Purple and Gold used a 9-5 spurt to battle back to within two at 18-16. The Mavericks closed the set on a 7-3 run to take a decisive two set lead.
EC got off to a 10-6 lead in the third set looking to make a comeback. Elmira extended its lead to 15-10 behind the service games of
Ladislav Lelkes '15 (Bratislava, SVK -- Esprit) and
Ryan Gelenitis '14 (Brick, NJ -- Christian Brothers Academy) as well as solid team net play. After a Medaille time out the Mavericks stormed back scoring six of the next seven points to tie it at 16 all. Play went back-and-forth down the stretch as both teams answered each other point for point before a
Gelenitis kill and a clutch two-man block at net clinched the third set for Elmira, 28-26. EC fell behind 14-6 early in the fourth set and couldn't quite recover as it dropped the frame 25-16, and the match 3-1.
Mike Stianche '15 (Bethlehem, PA -- Bethlehem Catholic) led EC with 18 kills, nine digs and two solo blocks, while
Gelenitis added 14 kills, two digs and one assisted block.
Wyatt Hamilton '15 (Jupiter, FL -- Suncoast) pounded out 10 kills, nine digs and a solo block, and
Michael Vellutato '14 (Topanga, CA -- Redondo Union) dished out 41 assists.
The Soaring Eagles return to action Saturday at the Philadelphia Biblical University Trimatch when they take on PBU at 11:00 a.m. and Lancaster Bible College at 1:00 p.m.
