Rochester, NY -- The No. 15 Elmira College men's volleyball team (7-6) defeated both Thiel College (4-4) and Ramapo College (3-3) 3-0 in the first day of the Golden Flyer Tournament today. Tyler Smith '15 led the Soaring Eagles offensively in both matches with a combined total of 15 kills.
 
Game One Recap
Elmira 3, Thiel 0 – 25-14, 25-20, 25-17

Thiel took an early 5-3 lead in the first set, however, the Purple and Gold responded with a 7-1 run to take a 10-6 lead. Both teams traded points until the EC men were up 15-12. The Soaring Eagles then went on 10-2 run to take the first set, 25-14.
 
Elmira started the second set with a 5-1 run, however, the Tomcats responded with a 7-5 run of their own to cut EC's lead to 11-8. Thiel kept battling and trailed the Purple and Gold by just two points, 16-14. The Soaring Eagles then went on an 8-2 run to lead 24-16, however, the EC men struggled to close out as the Tomcats scored the sets next four points to pull within four. A kill by Smith ended the set to give EC the 2-0 set lead.
 
Elmira kept the momentum in the third set as the Purple and Gold took an early 11-4 lead. Thiel battled the rest of the set but it would prove not to be enough as Elmira took the third set, 25-17.
 
Smith led offensively with match-highs of seven kills and four aces while Carlos Faccio '16 set up the offense with 25 assists. Rob Shade '15 led defensively with 13 digs in the win.
 
Game Two Recap
Elmira 3, Ramapo 0 – 25-14, 15-16, 25-17

Both teams traded points early in the first set as both teams were deadlock at 5-5. The Purple and Gold then went on a 10-5 run to lead, 15-7. EC's offense did not let up the in the first set as they went on to win, 25-14.
 
The Soaring Eagles started the second set with a 9-1 run. The Roadrunners regrouped but could not overcome the EC men as the Purple and Gold won the second set, 25-15.
 
Ramapo started the third set with a 3-0 run that was answered by an EC 5-0 run. EC's offense didn't let up from then on out as the Soaring Eagles won the third set, 25-17.
 
Mike Ellison '16 and Erik Griffin '16 both tallied 11 kills in the set while Faccio set up the offense with 30 assists. Shade led on the defensive end with 13 digs in the win.
 
The Soaring Eagles will compete in the second day of the Golden Flyer Tournament tomorrow, January 7th. The Purple and Gold will take on Medaille College and Wells College at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively.