Elmira, NY -- The 2013 Elmira College Men's Volleyball team features a relatively young team that welcomes six newcomers, while returning seven players. In addition to nearly half the team suiting up for the first time in the Purple and Gold this year, the squad features a completely new coaching staff under the direction of first year head coach, Stephen England.

England, a 2006 graduate of Nazareth College, spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant with the women's volleyball team at the Division I University of Washington. Prior to UW he spent four years as an assistant on the bench at Nazareth College. No stranger to high levels of collegiate volleyball, England will have the 2013 Soaring Eagles ready to contend in the highly competitive United Volleyball Conference (UVC) in just its third year as a program.

Elmira returns two all-conference members from a season ago in classmates Michael Vellutato '14 and Ryan Gelenitis '14. The leadership of Elmira's more experienced players will be huge as they look for a strong finish in conference play. The UVC's coaches have picked the Soaring Eagles to finish seventh in their preseason poll, while EC also ranks 15th in the Division III American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.


Vellutato, a Second Team All-UVC member last season, recorded a career-high of 394 assists in conference play, averaging 9.85 per set. The setter registered 29 total blocks (second highest on team), 45 digs, six aces and nine kills in UVC action. Overall, he tallied 1,402 assists during the season along with 197 digs, 81 blocks, and 38 service aces. He was a key leader for the Purple and Gold helping the team reach a 22-18 overall record, a 6-5 conference record, and finish the season with a national ranking of 15th.

Gelenitis was a key leader for the EC front line tying a season-high of 94 kills and leading the team with a career-high of 16 aces in conference play. He recorded 53 digs (second highest on team) and 15 total blocks. Gelenitis put up massive numbers throughout the season as he finished with team-highs of 420 kills (2.98 per set) and 53 service aces. The junior also recorded 205 digs and 54 blocks.

Ryan Nerney '14 and Tyler Smith '15 both contributed in their first seasons with the Purple and Gold reaching the 100 kill plateau. Nerney pounded out 178 kills to go with 90 total blocks. Meanwhile, Smith recorded 119 kills, 72 digs and 31 blocks.
EC welcomes six newcomers to the team this year, five of which are freshman with the other being a sophomore.

Erik Griffin '16, Mike Ellison '16, Dylan Kuhn '16, Andrew Johnson '16, Alex Rose '16 and Rob Shade '15 will all look to make impacts to the team in their first seasons.
 
With a balanced group of experienced returners and fresh new faces the 2013 Elmira College Men's Volleyball team will look to continue to make a name for themselves in the incredibly tough UVC.

EC opens play Saturday in a tri-match at Juniata College. The No. 15 Soaring Eagles square off with No. 3 Juniata at 12:00 p.m. before taking on Stevenson University at 5:00 p.m. Fans can follow the action through LIVE STATS or LIVE VIDEO.

Elmira will then return to Speidel Gymnasium for its home opener Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. against Penn State Erie-Behrend.