Springfield, MA -- In a match that featured a pair of nationally ranked teams, it would be No. 5 Springfield College (16-6) that would get the best of the No. 11 Elmira College men's volleyball team (17-11), as the Soaring Eagles dropped a 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-13) decision on the road. 
 
Elmira struggled putting balls away this afternoon, as EC posted a -.060 hitting percentage with a stat line of 19 kills and 23 errors on 67 attempts.  Credit a large part of EC's below average hitting to the defensive efforts of three-time defending NCAA National Champion Springfield, who totaled 18 block assists and 23 digs. 
 
Mike Ellison '16 had the best numbers hitting-wise out of Elmira's players as he was one of just two Soaring Eagles with a positive hitting percentage.  Ellison finished with five kills on 14 attempts with just two errors for a hitting percentage of .214.  Rookie Matthew Buffum '18 was the only other Soaring Eagle with a positive hitting percentage, hitting .091 on the day (4-3-11). 
 
Defensively, Erik Griffin '16 and Ellison led the charge with five digs apiece.  Andrew Johnson '16 also chipped in, but with his blocking skills, as he finished with three total blocks on one solo block and two block assists.
 
The Soaring Eagles will look to use today's match as a tune-up for a pair of United Volleyball Conference matches tomorrow against Bard College and host No. 3 SUNY New Paltz.  Elmira opens play tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. against the Hawks of New Paltz before facing Bard at 1:30 p.m.