Score: Nazareth College 3 – Elmira College 2 [29-27, 22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-8]
Records: Nazareth (20-6, 3-2 UVC), Elmira (17-7, 2-4 UVC)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- The ninth-ranked Elmira College men's volleyball team nearly pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in program history this evening at Speidel Gymnasium, but the EC rally eventually fell short, as the eighth-ranked Golden Flyers of Nazareth College held on for a five-set victory.
 
Trailing 2-sets-to-1, and behind 23-18 in the fourth, tonight's outcome looked like a surefire four-set win for the Golden Flyers. However, a kill by Andrew Johnson '16 on the ensuing point set the stage for one of the finest serving performances of the year by senior setter Carlos Faccio '16.
 
On the brink of a loss, the Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, native breathed life back into a deflated Soaring Eagle squad by pumping in powerful serves one-after-another to put the Purple and Gold in the driver's seat, 24-23. Faccio's heavy serves made it difficult for the Golden Flyers to connect on their passes, as Nazareth spent the next five points out-of-system, allowing the Elmira men to pull ahead late down the stretch.
 
Following a Nazareth timeout, Faccio's run came to a close on a service error, as the score stood deadlocked at 24-24. However, the momentum gained by the Soaring Eagles proved to be too much for the Golden Flyers, who committed a service and attack error to close out the set, handing Elmira a 26-24 win.
 
In total, Elmira won eight of the final nine points to clinch the fourth set. Elmira's unlikely comeback sent the crowd of 345 fans at Speidel Gymnasium into a frenzy.
 
The giant momentum swing, along with an extremely loud crowd, looked like it would carry the Soaring Eagles to a five-set win. However, an extended delay to start the fifth set due to a lengthy protest by the Nazareth head coach seemed to hinder Elmira's energy and even out the momentum in the match. Nazareth would eventually go on to win the fifth set by a 15-8 final to secure a five-set win.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Nazareth held the edge in attack percentage, hitting .302 compared to Elmira's .245.
• Elmira had more kills than Nazareth, 68-to-57.
• EC also produced more digs than Nazareth, 61-to-48.
• Elmira had two players produce double-doubles (Griffin & Kawecki).
• Three Soaring Eagles finished with double-digit kills (Griffin, Ellison, & Kawecki).
• Griffin led all hitters with a match-high 20 kills, while also making 11 digs.
• Kawecki finished with 13 kills and 13 digs.
• Ellison produced 19 kills.
• Dake led the defense with a match-high 15 digs.
• Faccio paced the attack with a match-high 55 assists.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira suffered its third consecutive loss of the season, EC's longest winless streak of the 2016 season.
• The Golden Flyers picked up their first win at Speidel Gymnasium since 2013.
• Elmira's record in five-set matches dropped to 6-3 on the year.
• Ellison increased his career kill total to 997, just three shy of becoming the third player in program history to reach 1,000 kills.
• Griffin extended his double-digit kill streak to 11 matches.

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action this Friday, March 18th, when the Soaring Eagles face Medaille College in a non-conference neutral site match at Nazareth's Kidera Gymnasium in Rochester, NY. The opening serve is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.