Elmira, NY -- Elmira's winter sports programs concluded the month of January with another busy week of action. The men's basketball and men's volleyball teams highlighted the weekend action with some big road victories. Catch up on what you missed in this issue of Soaring Eagles Weekly!
 
Headlines for the Week Ahead
 
Athletic Department Set to Host Athletics Alumni Weekend
The much anticipated 2015-16 Athletics Alumni Weekend is finally upon us as the athletic department will celebrate its past graduates with a series of events this coming weekend. Saturday will be the busier of the two days with a full slate of action at the Murray Athletic Center. Stay tuned to the EC Athletics Website for full details on this weekend's action.
 
Men's Ice Hockey Welcomes Nazareth College for Back-to-Back on Friday and Saturday
The Elmira College men's ice hockey team makes it long awaited return to home ice when it kicks off its final four-game homestand with a two-game set against Nazareth College on Friday, February 5^th, and Saturday, February 6^th. Opening puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. on both days.
 
Basketball Hosts Utica and Hartwick for Doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday
The Elmira College men's and women's basketball teams return home for doubleheader action on both Friday and Saturday. First, the Soaring Eagles welcome the Pioneers of Utica College on Friday evening. The games will be held at Speidel Gymnasium with the Elmira men tipping off at 6:00 p.m. and the Elmira women playing the nightcap. The following day EC basketball returns to the Murray Athletic Center for the first time in over a decade when it welcomes Hartwick College for a doubleheader at the domes. The Elmira men will tip things off at 2:00 p.m. with the women's game slated for 4:00 p.m.
 
Justin Henderson '16 Nominated for Geico Play of the Year
Senior sharp-shooter Justin Henderson '16 has been nominated for the 2016 Geico Play of the Year award. Be sure to vote for Henderson's game-winning three-quarter court shot in order to get him through to the final round of voting for the award. More details on how to get involved: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Takes on Buffalo State in Home-and-Home Series
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team will look to get back on track when it takes on Buffalo State in a home-and-home series on Friday and Saturday. First, the Soaring Eagles will travel to Buffalo, NY, for a 4:00 p.m.  faceoff on Friday night. The teams will resume the series at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena with a 3:00 p.m. puck drop on Saturday.
 
Men's Tennis Opens Spring Season at Daemon College
The Elmira College men's tennis team is set to open its traditional season on Saturday afternoon. The Soaring Eagles will travel to Amherst, NY, to kick off the 2016 portion of its schedule against Daemon College at 12:30 p.m.
 
Men's Volleyball Heads to Rochester for the Golden Flyer Invitational
The Elmira College men's volleyball team is set to hit the road for the second straight weekend when it heads to Nazareth College for the Golden Flyer Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Soaring Eagles open the two-day event on Friday with doubleheader matches against Johnson & Wales University and Medaille College at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., respectively. EC returns to action on Saturday with matches against Hilbert College and D'Youville College at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., respectively.
 
A Look Back on the Week That Was…
 
Men's Volleyball Goes 2-1 at Stevenson Invitational
The Elmira College men's volleyball team had a fairly successful weekend, as it hit the road for the first time this season to take part in the Stevenson Invitational. Elmira went 2-1 on the weekend to stretch its record to 5-1 to begin the 2016 campaign.
 
Elmira opened the two-day event on Friday night when it dispatched Medaille College in straight sets [25-16, 28-26, 25-22]. Erik Griffin '16 led the way for the Soaring Eagles, notching 12 kills, while Ryan McDonough '18 tallied eight kills in the contest.
 
The Soaring Eagles split the following day's action, winning a thrilling five-set match over Thiel College, before dropping the match against tournament-host Stevenson University in straight sets. Griffin continued to be a force for the Soaring Eagles, combining for 28 kills over the two contests, which included a 20-kill effort on 26 attacks against Thiel. His .796 hitting percentage in the contest set a new single-match program record. Carlos Faccio '16 also set a new single-match record in the victory over the Tomcats, collecting eight service aces.
 
For more information on EC Men's Volleyball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Men's Basketball Stuns Stevens on Saturday to Post 1-1 Week
After dropping a contest to Ithaca College at Speidel Gymnasium earlier in the week, the Elmira College men's basketball team rallied for an excellent 75-70 victory on the road at Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon. John Mullane '16 poured in a career-high 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, while Justin Porrett '19 added 17 points from the outside to help Elmira to its second Empire 8 Conference victory of the season.
 
For more information on EC Men's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Basketball Drops Pair to Ithaca and Stevens
The Elmira College women's basketball team had a difficult week, falling to Ithaca College at Speidel Gymnasium on Wednesday night and to Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon. Foul trouble plagues the Soaring Eagles on Wednesday, as they sent the Bombers to the line 37 times in the 63-42 loss. Danielle Cleary '18 and Emily Green '18 led the way for Elmira, each tallying a game-high 13 points.
 
The third quarter proved to be the difference on Saturday against the Ducks. With the two teams tied at 29-29 at halftime, Stevens opened the third on a 19-6 run to grab a double-digit lead it would not relinquish in the 67-55 defeat. Meghan Loya '16 posted one of her best games of the season, equaling a career-high and posting a new season-high with 14 points. She also pulled down nine rebounds.
 
For more information on EC Women's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Men's Ice Hockey Goes 0-1-1 Against Neumann
The Elmira College men's ice hockey team continued its ECAC West road swing with a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday against Neumann University. Unfortunately, the two-game set netted Elmira only a single point in the conference standings, as the Purple and Gold went 0-1-1 against the Knights.
 
The Soaring Eagles got off to a difficult start on Friday, as Neumann dominated the opening period, taking a 2-0 lead to the intermission. Elmira responded with an excellent final 40 minutes of regulation, controlling play for the majority of that time to get back into the game. Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16 netted a late equalizer with 1:38 remaining to send the game to overtime. EC fired 10 shots on goal during the extra session, but Neumann goaltender Mitch Weibe stood tall, as the game ended in a 2-2 tie.
 
Saturday's contest began much like Friday's contest ended, as Elmira dominated play during the first period. EC jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Jonathan Grassie '19 and Jeremy Marginsky '18; however, the Knights struck twice in a 3:04 span to end the first period and begin the second period to tie the game. After Tommy Sumi '16 netted a goal to reestablish the Elmira lead, Neumann answered with two more goals late in the middle period to take a 4-3 lead into the intermission. Elmira responded with an excellent effort in the third period, firing 24 shots on goal in final 20 minutes alone. Unfortunately, Weibe's strong goaltending made the difference, as the Knights held on for the 5-3 win.
 
For more information on EC Men's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Drops Pair to Top-Ranked Plattsburgh State
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team took on its toughest task of the season this past weekend when it welcomed top-ranked ECAC West rival Plattsburgh State to the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena for a two-game set on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, it was the Cardinals who took the upper hand in the battle for hosting privileges for the ECAC West Tournament later this month, as the visitors swept the weekend set with 4-2 and 7-1 wins.
 
Saturday's contest got off to a troubled start, as Plattsburgh netted three goals in the opening 17 minutes. It would add a fourth to stretch the advantage to 4-0; however, EC battled back down the stretch. Sarah Hughson '18 and Shannon Strawinski '19 netted goals 1:06 apart to halve the deficit with half of the third period remaining. The Soaring Eagles later were awarded a 5-on-3 advantage, but were unable to close the gap any closer in the loss.
 
Sunday's game was a battle through the first half of the contest, as Katie Granato '19 deflected in a goal to even the game at 1-1 heading into the first intermission. The Cardinals special teams got to work from there, as they finished 4-for-6 on the power play, while also adding a back-breaking shorthanded goal late in the second period to make the score 3-1. Things got away from the Soaring Eagles in the third period, as Plattsburgh found the back of the net four times.
 
For more information on EC Women's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
The Week Ahead…
 
Friday, February 5, 2016
Men's Volleyball vs. Johnson & Wales University (Golden Flyer Invitational), 4:00 p.m.
Men's Volleyball vs. Medaille College (Golden Flyer Invitational), 6:00 p.m.
*Men's Basketball vs. Utica College (Speidel Gymnasium), 6:00 p.m.
*Men's Ice Hockey vs. Nazareth College, 7:00 p.m.
*Women's Ice Hockey at Buffalo State, 7:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball vs. Utica College (Speidel Gymnasium), 8:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Men's Volleyball vs. Hilbert College (Golden Flyer Invitational), 11:00 a.m.
Men's Tennis at Daemon College, 12:30 p.m.
Men's Volleyball vs. D'Youville College (Golden Flyer Invitational), 1:00 p.m.
*Men's Basketball vs. Hartwick College (Murray Athletic Center), 2:00 p.m.
*Women's Ice Hockey vs. Buffalo State, 3:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball vs. Hartwick College (Murray Athletic Center), 4:00 p.m.
*Men's Ice Hockey vs. Nazareth College, 7:00 p.m.
 
Bold Indicates Home Contest
*Indicates Conference Matchup