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Pittsford, NY -- For the second time today, the Elmira College men's volleyball team (24-10) needed a fifth set to determine the outcome of the match.  However, the Soaring Eagles would not come out on the winning end as the Violets of NYU (18-10) edged Elmira 3-2, eliminating the Purple and Gold from the UVC Tournament.
 
"I am extremely proud of the way we played today" said Head Coach Stephen England.  "Especially to beat a good Medaille team earlier today in five and comeback and play another five set match against NYU, it was an epic battle."
 
Similar to Elmira's quarterfinal match, the Soaring Eagles had three players finish with double-digit kills.  Erik Griffin '16 led the charge with 20 kills, eight digs, and six blocks.  Ryan Gelenitis '14 checked-in next with a double-double effort, registering 16 kills and 11 digs while Mike Ellison '16 chipped in with 11 kills and seven digs.  
 
Not to be outdone by his teammates, Michael Vellutato '14 posted a season-high 60 assists, marking the first time this season he has reached the 60-assist mark.  Vellutato's 60 assists also marked the third time he has recorded 60 or more in his career and ties the second highest single-game assist total in program history. 
 
NYU would take the first set, clipping the Soaring Eagles 25-23, but Elmira responded nicely in the following set, winning it 25-18.  Credit much of EC's success in the second set to Gelenitis as the senior went on a serving tear, winning the set's final four points.
                                                                                                                           
"When the game is on the line, Ryan [Gelenitis] wants the ball and Vellutato knows he is going to set him" said England.  "They made some big plays for us to win some sets today."
 
In the third set, Elmira edged NYU by the slimmest of margins as the Soaring Eagles outlasted the Violets in a marathon set, 38-36.  The set saw seven lead changes and 15 ties as well as 14 set-points between the two teams, nine for Elmira and five for NYU.  Elmira would make good on their ninth set point on an NYU attacking error to take a 2-sets-to-1 lead.
 
The first half of the fourth set was a close affair but a 4-0 run in the middle of the set by the Violets, along with a 5-0 run late in the set, proved to be the difference as NYU claimed the fourth, 25-16.
 
"NYU just wanted it a little bit more than we did in the fourth" England stated.  "They served really tough, executed in tough swing situations, and put up good blocks."
 
In a race to 15 points in the fifth set, it would be NYU who would come out of the gates firing as the Violets jumped out to a 7-3 lead.  However, Elmira would cut the lead to one at 10-9 but this would be as close as the Soaring Eagles would get as NYU won five of the final seven points to clinch the set 15-11, as well as the match, 3-2.
 
"Our guys played great today and you can't take anything away from either team" said England.  "Hopefully it makes us better if we get an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament."
 
With the loss, Elmira will wait for Monday's NCAA Selection Show to see if they receive an at-large bid into the 2014 NCAA Tournament.  The Soaring Eagles boast 11 wins against nationally ranked opponents this season, including six top-10 wins.