Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College No. 15 men's volleyball team (14-8, 1-1 UVC) defeated Stevenson University (7-7, 3-1CVC) 3-1 before sweeping SUNY IT (10-8) 3-0 today. The win over Stevenson marks EC's first win in program history against the Mustangs. After missing seven matches due to injury, Mike Ellison '16 made his return to the court against Stevenson and posted 20 kills, nine digs, two aces, and two block assists.    

Match One Recap
Elmira 3, Stevenson 1 -- 25-27, 25-23, 25-21, 25-17

The Purple and Gold started the match off strong with a 7-1 run, however, the Mustangs would go on a 9-3 run to tie the game up at 10-10. Both teams went back-and-forth until Stevenson took a 19-16 advantage. EC responded with a 7-2 run to take a 23-21 lead, causing a Mustang timeout. After the break, Stevenson went on a 3-1 run to tie the game up at 24. Elmira scored the next point to go up 25-24, however, the Mustangs would score the games next three points to win the first set, 27-25.

The beginning half of the second set was full of 5-2 runs that Stevenson and Elmira both traded until the game was tied up at 14-14. Both teams battled the rest of the set until the game was tied at 24 apiece. Elmira would close the set out with a 3-1 run to win 25-23 and tie the sets up at 1-1.

Both teams traded points for the first half of the third set until the score was deadlocked at 13-13. Stevenson then scored the next three points to take a 16-13 advantage. Elmira than went on an 8-1 run to take a 21-17 lead. The Mustangs battled back, however, the EC men would hold on to win the third set, 25-21 and take a 2-1 set lead.

The third set saw back-and-forth action until the game was tied up at 8-8 and the Purple and Gold went on a 10-4 run to lead, 18-12. Both teams traded points until the EC men led 23-17 and scored the final two points of the set to win 25-17 and win the match, 3-1.

Erik Griffin '16 also scored 20-plus kills with 23 and also added 12 digs and an ace while Carlos Faccio '16 tallied 59 assists, seven digs, three aces, two block assists and a kill. Rob Shade '15 led on defense with 14 digs and added two assists.

Match Two Recap
Elmira 3, SUNY IT 0 -- 25-17, 25-20, 25-19
The Soaring Eagles started the first set off with an 11-4 run, however, the Wildcats would battle back and slowly chip away at the Elmira lead until SUNY IT trailed by just four, 18-14, later in the set. The Purple and Gold then took control of the set, finishing with a 7-3 run to win, 25-17.

SUNY IT started the second set off with a 6-4 run, however, the Purple and Gold would come back to tie the game up at 8-8. Elmira then went on an 8-4 run to take a 16-12 lead. Both teams went back-and-forth the rest of the set, however, the EC men would hold on to win, 25-20.

The third set started off with both teams trading points until the score was tied at 10-10. The EC men then scored the next four points of the set to take a 14-10 lead, causing a Wildcat timeout. After the break, SUNY IT would battle the rest of the set, however, the Soaring Eagles would go on to take a 25-19 set victory and win the match, 3-0.

Mark Kawecki '17 led on both ends of the court with a match-high 11 kills and shared a team-lead of six digs. Matthew Buffum '18 helped out with nine kills while Faccio set up the offense, once again, with 30 assists and added three kills, two aces, and a dig. Evan Clarke '15 also produced six digs in the win.

The Purple and Gold will compete next in the second day of the Mark Twain Cup tomorrow, February 28th when the EC men take on Penn St.-Behrend in a UVC matchup at 10:00 a.m. and then Wells College at 4:00 p.m.