Score: #8 Elmira College 3 – Bard College 1 [24-26, 25-20, 25-11, 25-16]
Score: #5 Stevens 3 - #8 Elmira 1 [25-20, 25-23, 26-28, 25-18]
Records: Elmira (17-4, 2-3 UVC), Bard (3-14, 0-5 UVC), Stevens (17-4, 3-2 UVC)
Location: Stevenson Athletic Center – Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
 
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY -- The eight-ranked Elmira College men's volleyball looked to continue its recent surge on Saturday as it made the trek downstate to face Bard College and fifth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology in EC's second United Volleyball Conference tri-match of the season. The Soaring Eagles got off to a flying start with a four-set victory over the Raptors, but could not score the daily-double in falling in four to the Ducks.
 
The Soaring Eagles got off to a bit of a sluggish start in the opening match of today's doubleheader against Bard College. EC made nine hitting errors and hit just .088 in allowing the Raptors to steal the opening set in extra-points 26-24.
 
Dropping the first set seemed to be a wake-up call for the Purple and Gold, as the hitting picked up in a big way over the next three sets. Elmira posted its best hitting of the opening match during the second set, racking up 16 kills and committing just two errors in swinging at a .400 clip in the frame. It was a team effort for the Soaring Eagles in that frame, as Erik Griffin '16, Mike Ellison '16, Matthew Buffum '18 and Dan Symer '19 all collected three-or-more kills to take the set 25-20.
 
Elmira completely dominated the third frame to take the upper hand in the match for the first time. The Soaring Eagles notched the set's first six points in route to a 25-11 win. The team hitting remained hot with 14 kills over just three errors to swing .393 during the middle set. Mark Kawecki '17 led the way for EC, collecting six kills all in succession during the frame.
 
EC finished off the hosts in convincing fashion in the fourth set. The Purple and Gold built up an early three-point advantage, which they stretched to eight with a 6-0 run midway through the frame. Griffin polished off the Raptors with Kills for the final two Elmira points in taking the set 25-16 and the match three-sets-to-one.
 
The Soaring Eagles looked to carry the momentum from its victory in the opening match of the day into a heavyweight battle with fifth-ranked Stevens.
 
The first two sets followed a very similar storyline. Elmira held narrow leads deep into both the first and second frames; however, the Ducks were able to string clutch runs to jump out to an early two-sets-to-none lead.
 
The Soaring Eagles showed their fight in the third set. EC used a run to take a five-point advantage at 20-15, but Stevens battled back to take a 24-23 lead setting up an opportunity at match-point. Elmira fended off three opportunities for the Ducks to win it, before taking the set. Coach England inserted EC rookie Dan Symer '19 to serve with the score knotted at 26-all. The strategy worked, as Elmira took a 27-26 lead, before Symer put it away with an ace to take the set 28-26.
 
Unfortunately, the hole proved to be too much to dig out of, as Stevens net front defense buckled down in the fourth set. The Ducks put together a crucial 4-0 run midway through the set to open up a 16-10 lead. EC battled hard, but could not bridge the gap down the stretch to drop the fourth frame 25-18 and the match three-sets-to-one.
 
Inside the Box Score (Bard)

• Elmira held a distinctive advantage in kills with a 56-to-31 advantage.
• The Soaring Eagles outhit Bard .306-to-.087 for the match.
• EC posted six service aces, while the Raptors finished with four.
• Elmira held a big advantage at the net front, posting 13 total blocks to Bards' five.
• EC was also strong on the ground with 56 digs, while the Raptors finished with 38.
• Buffum led the way for Elmira with a match-high 13 kills on a 13K – 1E – 22TA line.
• Griffin paced the Soaring Eagles in hitting with a .556 on a 12K – 2E – 18TA line.
• Kawecki also added 12 kills.
• Ryan Branigan '19 finished with a match-high 14 digs.
• Ellison added 11 digs for EC.
• Adam Dake '19 finished with a match-high 41 assists.
• Dylan Kuhn '16 had a productive day on defense at the net front, finishing with two solo blocks and five block assists, both match highs.

 
Inside the Box Score (Stevens)

• Both teams finished with 53 kills in the contest.
• Stevens outhit Elmira .325-to-.221 in the contest.
• EC finished with seven service aces in the match, while the Ducks collect three.
• Stevens held a decisive advantage at the net front, finishing with 15 total blocks compared to Elmira's six.
• EC held a 51-to-48 edge in assists.
• The Ducks were strong on the ground with 48 digs, while the Soaring Eagles finished with 40.
• Griffin finished with a team-high 13 kills, finishing with a 13K – 8E – 41TA line.
• Kuhn posted an extremely strong offensive game, posting a 12K – 2E – 17TA line to hit a team-leading .588 for the match.
• Kawecki had Elmira's other double-digit kill effort with 11 in the contest, while also posting a team-high nine digs.
• Carlos Faccio '16 finished with 46 assists.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira equaled a program-record with a ninth straight victory after dispatching Bard in four-sets to open the day. Unfortunately, the winning streak was snapped in the second match on the day against Stevens.
• EC moves to 7-0 all-time against Bard, while it falls to 1-7 all-time against Stevens.
• The Soaring Eagles now fall to 2-2 against Top-10 opponents this season.
• With his pair of double-digit kill efforts, Griffin has recorded 10-or-more kills in nine consecutive appearances.
• Elmira is now 15-1 when hitting .250-or-better, while it falls to just 2-4 when hitting below that mark.
• Kawecki has now collect double-digit kills in five of his last seven contests.

 
Up Next
Elmira will have a quick turnaround as it faces eight-ranked UC Santa Cruz at Stevens' Canavan Arena tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. EC dispatched the Banana Slugs in straight-sets earlier this season.