Score: No. 11 Elmira College 3 – Wells College 0 [25-20, 25-21, 25-17]
Score: No. 11 Elmira College 3 – Rivier University 0 [25-19, 25-18, 25-19]
Records: Elmira (14-4), Wells (6-10), Rivier (9-6)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- The 11^th-ranked Elmira College men's volleyball team got off to the start they were looking for in their return to Speidel Gymnasium for the two-day Soaring Eagle Invitational. The Purple and Gold swept both of its first day matches against Wells College and Rivier University in straight-sets to boost their winning streak to six matches.
 
It was a somewhat slow start for the Soaring Eagles as they loosened up the hitting arms in the first set. Wells jumped out to an early 3-1 lead; however, EC warmed to the task as the set continued. The middle hitting of Dylan Kuhn '16 proved to be a problem for the Express. He racked up three early kills to help the Soaring Eagles gain some separation.
 
EC setter Carlos Faccio '16 continued to facilitate the attack through the center of the court down the back stretch of the opening set. Kills by Matthew Buffum '18 and Erik Griffin '16 extended the Soaring Eagles lead to 19-15, prompting a Wells timeout.
 
Elmira continued to concentrate its firepower through the center of the court to close out the set. Griffin put down a thunderous kill to make the score 24-18. A service error by the Express closed out the first set in favor of the hosts 25-20.
 
The Soaring Eagles again started out slow to begin the second set, as Wells jumped out to an early 6-2 advantage. EC battled back with its defense. Dan Symer '19 and Kuhn were an impenetrable wall during the middle portion of the frame, notching back-to-back blocks to help Elmira claw ahead to a 10-8 advantage.
 
Both sides would battle it out as the second match continued. Elmira continued to ride the strong net-front defense and solid hitting from Mike Ellison '16 coming out of the back. Griffin again put EC in position to close out the set with a precise cross-court kill. The Purple and Gold took a strangle hold on the match on Faccio's ensuing serve to win the second set 25-21.
 
Similar to the first two sets, the third also began competitively, before EC took control during the middle portion. A 6-0 run by the Soaring Eagles, aided by the power serving of Faccio lifted the Purple and Gold to an 18-13 advantage.
 
Elmira used a collective effort to maintain the advantage. Ryan McDonough '18 registered a fantastic solo block, while Kuhn, Faccio and Andrew Johnson '16 collected kills down the stretch. With Symer on serve, the Soaring Eagles closed out the third set 25-17 to take the opening match of the day in straight sets.
 
The Soaring Eagles got off to much stronger start to begin the day's second match against Rivier University, riding the hot hitting of Mark Kawecki '17 who notched three early kills. EC used the heavy serving of Faccio, Kawecki and Griffin to build up a 17-11 advantage, prompting a Raider timeout.
 
Kawecki powered the Soaring Eagles to the opening set win down the stretch. He finished the first frame with five kills and two service aces, as EC took the opening set 25-19.
 
Elmira continued to ride the powerful hitting of Kawecki to begin the second. The third-year Soaring Eagle notched three kills and two service aces to give EC an 11-5 advantage heading into the middle portion of the set. He would finish the with six kills in the middle frame to lead the Purple and Gold, as they rolled to a 25-18 set win and a 2-sets-to-none stranglehold in the match.
 
The fast starts continued for Elmira to begin the third set. Griffin and McDonough each marked three early kills to lead the home side to a 12-9 lead at the halfway point. Griffin finished with four kills in the set to pace the Soaring Eagles.
 
EC maintained a comfortable edge throughout the final set, with Matthew Buffum '18 closing it out by hammering a kill down the middle finish the third set 25-19. Elmira took the match in straight sets to get off to a perfect start on the opening day of the tournament.
 
Inside the Box Score (Wells)

• Elmira outpaced Wells in kills 41-to-26.
• EC held Wells to just a .080 hitting percentage in the match.
• The Soaring Eagles posted a .228 hitting percentage in the contest (41K – 18E – 101TA).
• Elmira had two service aces, while it held the Express off the stat sheet in that category.
• EC outpaced Wells with seven total blocks to the visitor's five.
• Elmira led 39-to-25 in assists.
• The Soaring Eagles outpaced the visitors in digs 41-to-29.
• Griffin led the Soaring Eagles with a match-high 11 kills.
• Kuhn had a strong match with seven kills (.357) and four block assists.
• Faccio finished with 37 assists and Elmira's two service aces. He also posted a match-high 14 digs.

 
Inside the Box Score (Rivier)

• Elmira hit much better in the second match of the evening against Rivier, swinging at a .377 success rate as a team.
• The EC service game was also on point, racking up 11 service aces in the match.
• The Soaring Eagles finished with four block assists as a team.
• EC finished with 39 assists and 29 digs.
• Kawecki paced Elmira in the second match, posting 14 kills on a .458 hitting percentage in the match, while also adding a match-high four service aces.
• Griffin also had a solid match with 10 kills, hitting at a .471 success rate, while also adding a pair of service aces.
• Kuhn was clinical in his finishes, leading all players with at least five total attacks, posting a 6K – 1E – 10TA line against the Raiders.
• Faccio finished with 36 assists.
• Adam Dake '19 led Elmira's defense on the ground with a match-high seven digs.

 
News and Notes

• With the two victories, Elmira stretches its winning streak to six consecutive matches.
• Tonight's win over Rivier was Elmira's first in the all-time series between the two programs. EC was previously 0-4 against the Raiders.
• With the win over the Express, Elmira moves to 4-0 all-time against Wells.
• With its victory over Rivier University, Elmira is now 12-1 when hitting .250-or-better as a team this season. EC also boosted its record to 2-3 when hitting under that mark thanks to its straight-sets victory over Wells in the opener.
• Faccio equaled his season high with 14 digs in the victory over Wells.
• Faccio has now marked 30-plus assists in 14 of his 18 appearances this season.
• Counting tonight's pair of matches, Griffin has now posted double-digit kills in each of his last six outings. On the year, he has marked 10-plus kills in 10 of his 12 appearances.
• Elmira's defensive effort against Wells was one of its best of the season. EC held the Express to a .080 hitting percentage, which was the Soaring Eagles second lowest opponent hitting percentage of the year.
• With the two victories this evening, Elmira improved its record to 14-4 on the year. It is the Soaring Eagles' best start through 18 matches in program history.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to action tomorrow morning when it kicks off second day action at the Soaring Eagle Invite with a rematch against No. 7 Stevenson University. The match is set to begin at 11:00 a.m. EC will conclude the invitational against SUNY Poly at 1:00 p.m.