Score: Elmira College 3 – Penn State-Behrend 0 [25-13, 25-12, 25-15]
Record: Elmira (12-4, 1-2 UVC), Penn State-Behrend (3-8, 1-2 UVC)
Location: Junker Center – Erie, PA
 
Erie, PA -- The 11th-ranked Elmira College men's volleyball team flexed its muscle in conference play tonight, as the Soaring Eagles rolled past Penn State-Behrend in three sets [25-13, 25-12, 25-15]. Tonight's win over the Lions hands the Purple and Gold their first United Volleyball Conference (UVC) win of the season.
 
Elmira was dominant this evening, as the Soaring Eagles produced one its finest offensive outings in program history. The Soaring Eagles hit .521-percent from the floor, which was the second-highest mark in EC's six years of existence as a collegiate program. Elmira was .005 shy of tying the program record set in 2013 against Cazenovia College.
 
To say Elmira got off to a hot start to tonight's match could be the biggest understatement of the year, as the Soaring Eagles hit a blistering .667-percent in the opening set on a 14k-2e-18ta stat line. Elmira went on a 9-3 run midway through the set to take a commanding 21-9 lead, which eventually turned into a first set in favor of the Purple and Gold, 25-13. During that run, Erik Griffin '16 and Mark Kawecki '17 combined for five kills.
 
EC's hitting was just as good in the second set, as the Soaring Eagles logged a .615 attack percentage on a 9k-1e-13 stat line en route to a 25-12 win. Elmira won 16 of the first 20 points in the set, taking a substantial lead the Purple Gold never relinquished. Griffin and Kawecki once again paced the Elmira attack with three kills apiece.
 
In the third, Elmira's efficiency cooled down a bit but it meant little to the score line, as the Soaring Eagles won it 25-15. Carlos Faccio '16 produced five of his match-high seven service aces in the final set.

In His Own Words…
Head Coach Stephen England reflects on his team's effort tonight…
"I am very proud of the way the tem performed tonight. Our goal going in was to serve aggressively and keep the pressure on from the service line. We accomplished that goal and made it very hard for PSB to get their offense in-system."
 
Coach England on EC getting its first conference win of the season…
"It feels good to get the first UVC win under our belts. I was happy to see the momentum from our California trip carry over back here on the East Coast."
 
Coach England shares his thoughts on Elmira's efficiency this evening…
"We passed well and served tough. Carlos was setting a balanced offense in serve-receive. Our tough serving gave us a lot of free ball opportunities. When we can do that, our offense is hard to slow down." 
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira was terrific from a hitting standpoint, logging a .521 attack percentage (32k-7e-48ta).
• Penn State-Behrend struggled to find their groove, hitting -.055(14k-17e-55ta).
• EC produced 13 service aces, while the Lions had zero.
• Total blocks were also in favor of Elmira at 7-to-2.
• The Soaring Eagles also held a 23-to-8 advantage in digs.
• Griffin produced a match-high 11 kills, while Kawecki added another 10.
• Faccio paced the attack with 26 assists and served a match-high seven aces.
• Dylan Kuhn '16, Andrew Johnson '16, and Kawecki shared the team-lead in blocks with three apiece.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira's .521 attack percentage is the second-highest percentage in program history.
• EC earned its first UVC victory of the season.
• The Soaring Eagles remain perfect against Penn State-Behrend, with a 5-0 all-time series record.
• EC's 13 service aces are the third-highest total of the 2016 season.
• Elmira's seven hitting errors are a season low.             
• Griffin has produced double-digit kills in four consecutive matches, all EC wins.
• Faccio's seven aces tied his second-highest total of the year.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to action this Friday, February 26th, when the Soaring Eagles host Wells College in the first match of the Soaring Eagle Invitational. Friday's match is set for 6:00 p.m. at EC's Speidel Gymnasium.