Hoboken, NJ -- It was a battle of two top-10 teams in the first round of the UVC Tournament as No. 10 Elmira College took on No. 9 NYU. Unfortunately, the Soaring Eagles would see their time in the UVC Tournament come to an end, as the Royals pulled out three close sets (25-23, 27-25, 25-21) for the 3-0 sweep.
Recently named UVC All-Conference First-Teamer
Erik Griffin '16 led Elmira with 12 kills, the only Soaring Eagle with double-digit kills. He also had three of Elmira's six aces and chipped in two block assists.
Tyler Smith '15 and
Evan Clarke '15, playing in their final match for EC, combined for 33 assists with Smith also contributing six kills.
Defensively, the 2015 Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year,
Rob Shade '15 had eight digs to lead the Purple and Gold. His eight digs increased his season total to 333, tying him for second in EC single-season history.
Matthew Buffum '18 was Elmira's top enforcer at the net as he recorded four blocks, one solo and three assisted, against the Royals.
The opening set was a close affair as NYU pulled it out, 25-23. Neither team led by more than three points at any point in the set, with that occurring just once when NYU concluded a 4-0 run to take a 24-21 lead. EC cut it to 24-23 with a kill and an ace from Griffin, but the Royals ended the set on the next point to the one-set advantage.
The Soaring Eagles jumped out to a 5-1 lead early in the second set, but a 4-0 run from the Royals tied it up at five and created a set similar to the first. EC eventually went on top 22-20, but a 3-0 run from NYU made it 23-22. The Purple and Gold, after fighting off set point at 24-23, had set point at 25-24, but NYU won the final three points to take the second set 27-25.
The third set was again a close affair as the score stayed within two points two points until NYU took a 16-12 lead halfway through. Elmira cut it to 16-15, but another quick run from the Royals made it 20-16. EC chipped away at the deficit and made it 22-21 after Buffum kill, but NYU pulled away for the 25-21 win to advance to the semifinals.
Elmira concludes the 2015 season with a 20-14 record and their fourth straight trip to the UVC Tournament.
