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Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College men's volleyball team has an announcement for the rest of the country; they are for real. Despite playing without their best hitter, Erik Griffin '16, the Soaring Eagles rallied to defeat No. 5 UC Santa Cruz Thursday night, 3-2, EC's second win against a nationally ranked opponent in as many nights. Tonight's victory is also a milestone for the Elmira College men's volleyball program. With UC Santa Cruz entering the match as the number five team in the country, tonight's win marks the first victory over a top-five opponent in program history.

The first set was tight early on, but a mini 5-0 run from the Banana Slugs gave them an 18-11 lead. EC cut the lead down to three on a few occasions, but UC Santa Cruz held on to take the first set 25-20.

The second set opened just like the first as the two teams traded points back and forth. Elmira was able to take control of the set about halfway through when Mike Ellison '16 took the ball to serve. Ellison rattled off five straight points for the Soaring Eagles, including two service aces. The Purple and Gold held the advantage throughout the remainder of set and Ellison fittingly knotted the game up at one set apiece as his kill gave EC the 25-21 win.

UC Santa Cruz showed why they are ranked number five in the country in the third set as the Banana Slugs jumped out to a 13-5 lead, forcing EC Head Coach Stephen England to call a timeout. The Soaring Eagles rallied out of the timeout to make it a 13-14 game, but UC Santa Cruz recovered to win the third set 25-21 and take a 2-1 advantage.

The Purple and Gold would not go down without a fight, however, as the men dominated the fourth set, winning it 25-19. The six point differential was the greatest point spread of any of the five sets. With EC leading 24-19, Andrew Johnson '16 hit a powerful attack that cleared the UC Santa Cruz blockers and bounced off the floor tying the game up at two sets apiece.

The deciding fifth set was truly a back-and-forth affair as neither team led by more than two points. With EC trailing 7-8, Johnson stepped up to take his turn in the serving rotation. Johnson, who does not serve often, struck a well-hit serve that dipped over the net and bounced off the sideline for the clean ace, arguably the biggest ace of his young career. The ace, which was a major momentum shift in that final set, drew praise from England.

"I'm super proud of him," said England. "I knew he had it in him, you just have to trust that he can hit a serve like that in a big game."

Johnson's ace also electrified the Soaring Eagle fans in attendance as the spectators really rallied behind the players on the court. The men certainly played off the crowd noise to regain the lead and earn a match point on four separate occasions.

It turns out that the fourth time was the charm as Ellison stepped up to serve with EC leading 18-17. Ellison hit a quality serve that put UC Santa Cruz on the defensive. The Banana Slugs were unable to generate a positive attack and just sent a looping ball over the net, Rob Shade '15 passed the ball to Michael Vellutato '14 who made a quick set right in the middle of the court. Ryan Nerney '14 went up with Vellutato and hit his attack right at UC Santa Cruz's blockers who were late at getting to their spots. The ball deflected off the blockers' finger tips and skipped far past the baseline, sending the Soaring Eagles, and their fans, into a state of jubilation.

The Purple and Gold will look to carry this momentum into this weekend's Nazareth Invitational as the men will square-off against two more nationally ranked opponents.