ELMIRA, N.Y. -- In just its seventh season of collegiate competition, the Elmira College men's volleyball team has already cemented its place as one of the United Volleyball Conference's (UVC) top teams and one of the elite programs in the country. The Soaring Eagles have pieced together three consecutive 20-win seasons and will once again look to eclipse the 20-win plateau during the 2017 campaign. However, the Elmira men will have to do so under new leadership on-and-off the court.
 
The summer of 2016 saw the departure of four-year head coach Stephen England, who helped guide Elmira to three UVC Tournament berths and several program highs throughout his tenure. Elmira will look to newly appointed head coach, Daniel Miranda, to continue EC's tradition of winning in the upcoming season.
 
"We have a smaller group of players than in years past, but they are a bunch of workhorses," said Miranda. "They really strive to push each other at each practice. As long as we continue to put in the hard work I think we will find success this year."
 
Along with a new coach, Elmira will rely on a relatively young group of players to lead the charge after losing five seniors from a season ago. Of those five seniors, four were everyday starters, including UVC All-Conference honoree Mike Ellison '16 and two-time AVCA All-American Erik Griffin '16, the latter of whom will be on the sideline for the Soaring Eagles this season as an assistant coach.
 
EC's path to a fourth consecutive 20-win season and a return to postseason play will be a difficult one to say the least. Elmira's non-conference schedule is jam-packed with quality opponents, six of which will begin the year with a top-15 ranking, according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Preseason Poll.
 
Things inside the UVC do not get any easier, as five of the EC's eight conference opponents boast a preseason national ranking, while one other league foe received votes. However, tough competition is nothing new for Elmira, which touts one of the nation's toughest schedules year in and year out.
 
"This conference is known to be extremely competitive," Miranda stated. "I think it's going to come down to being physically ready to go, being conditioned and being able to play through high-pressure situations. A lot of our practices are focused around being able to compete under pressure, because when it comes down to that high level of play, each match is decided by one or two points. "
 
RETURNERS
MARK KAWECKI '17 (OH/OPP)
After losing EC's top two outside hitters, Ellison and Griffin, the Soaring Eagles should be in good hands with the return of Kawecki. Kawecki's journey to become Elmira's top hitting option is an inspiring one. The Bangor, Pennsylvania, native played in just seven sets during his rookie season in 2014, but 2016 served as his coming out party. During Kawecki's junior year, he finished third on the team with 255 kills and a kills per set average of 2.55. In order for Elmira to have another successful season, Kawecki will need to be firing on all cylinders.
 
"Mark is an extremely physical kid whose main goal is to score. A lot of the times he just wants to hammer it in, and that's his style, so we are going to take advantage of that. I think he will be a major presence for us at the net and could be one of our leading blockers and hitters."

MATTHEW BUFFUM '18 (MH)
Buffum enters his third season with the Soaring Eagles as one of the program's most consistent blockers with a two-year career average of 0.66 blocks per set, a mark that ranks fifth in the EC record books. The offseason has been good to the Chesterfield, Missouri, native, who is visibly leaner and stronger for his junior season. Elmira will be counting on Buffum to perform at a high level this year as the team's only returning middle from a season ago.
 
"Buffum has stepped up in a big way this year and is playing at what I consider an All-American level through the first few weeks of practice," said Miranda. "He's worked extremely hard in the offseason on his conditioning and has absorbed all the tips and information we as a staff have given him."
 
JEREMY BEST '19 (S)
The product of Wexford, Pennsylvania, saw limited time in the opening half of his rookie season, but took over as the team's starting setter in late April and never relinquished that role. Best appeared in 39 sets last season and amassed 206 assists for a per-set average of 5.28. Those numbers show that he has the ability to handle the rigors of a collegiate volleyball season, and standing at 6-feet 2-inches, Best should be a dynamic player for EC in the upcoming year.
 
"Since day one, Jeremy has been one of the hardest working kids on the court," raved Miranda. "I think he will do big things for us this year at the setter position."
 
RYAN BRANIGAN '19 (L)
Branigan returns with the most experience of any of EC's sophomores with 89 sets played, spending most of that time as a defensive specialist. He totaled 94 digs a season ago, second-most by any returning Soaring Eagle, which should help the Massapequa, New York, native solidify his spot as EC's starting libero.
 
"He has been making some phenomenal defensive digs in practice," said Miranda. "I think he is going to be a true standout in the nation as far as getting digs and on serve-receive with his passing ability. He's been playing extremely well."
 
RYAN MCDONOUGH '18 (OH)
McDonough is undoubtedly Elmira's emotional leader and will once again be counted on to ignite EC throughout a challenging schedule. The Lindenhurst, New York, native has a proven track record of quality play, as he opened the 2016 season with seven double-digit kill performances in Elmira's first 12 matches. A versatile talent with the ability to play multiple positions, look for McDonough to be a catalyst for the Soaring Eagles each time he steps onto the court.
 
"He has been a key leader for our guys, on and off the court," Miranda simply stated. "He's definitely a sparkplug for our team and can get our guys going on the court with a big play on offense or defense."
 
DAN SYMER '19 (OH)
The Burnt Hills, New York, native saw limited action as a rookie, ranking lower in the pecking order behind a two-time All-American and a two-time UVC All-Conference recipient in Griffin and Ellison, respectively. However, following a challenging freshman season and a solid offseason, Symer will more than likely be one of EC's top hitting options on the outside.
 
"I really see Dan having a breakout year for us," Miranda stated. "Last year he got himself familiar with the college game, especially the speed, but I know for a fact he has been working hard in the weight room preparing for the season. He is arguably the most technically sound of any of our athletes. He has been our most consistent hitter and I am looking for him to be a major offensive weapon for us on the outside."
 
NEWCOMERS
HENRY CLEVELAND '20 (OH)
Cleveland comes to Elmira after a successful high school career at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill (VVS). He was named the New York State Class B Section III Co-MVP as senior, after totaling 222 kills and 118 digs, which also helped Cleveland collect Center State Conference West First-Team All-Star accolades.
 
"Henry will primarily be utilized as both a defensive and blocking specialist," said Miranda. "I think he could get us a ton of aces this year, not only because of his aggressiveness, but also because of how particular he can be with placing the ball."
 
GARRETT COLEMAN '20 (OH/OPP)
Standing at 6-feet 6-inches, Coleman looks like he could be an immediate contributor for the Soaring Eagles as a freshman. He is coming off a phenomenal high school career, one that saw him lead Cicero-North Syracuse (CNS) to an undefeated record in conference play en route to a New York State Section III Championship and a Division I Central-Regional Championship in 2015.
 
"I really think he will be a major offensive and defensive weapon for us," said Miranda. "He's the type of player that we can put anywhere on the court because of his versatility."
 
MATT STRANEY '20 (OH/OPP)
Much like his fellow freshmen, Straney saw a great deal of success during his high school volleyball days. He led Shenendehowa to a Section II Division I Championship, a Regional Title as a senior, and the team's first-ever appearance in the New York State Tournament.
 
"He will be an offensive presence for us as a freshman," stated Miranda. "Straney can throw up a big block at any point, both in the middle and as an opposite. He hits one of the heavier balls on the team and can be a monster at the net."
 
GENERAL OUTLOOK
With a slender roster this season, fitness and health will be two key factors that will shape Elmira's success. However, smaller roster numbers also means more playing time, which should help keep EC's team of nine student-athletes remain healthy on the court throughout a 32-match season.
 
A relatively young team, Elmira will rely heavily on its core group of returning players to set the tone for the Soaring Eagles early on against some stiff competition. Elmira's first four tournaments of the season will feature at least one team with a ranking or receiving votes in the national poll, which will be a test for the Purple and Gold right out of the gates.
 
"We are pretty evenly matched up with some quality teams to start the year," said Miranda. "We have some top competition at our first four tournaments against top-10 teams. If we can start off strong and earn those wins right off the bat, I think it can set the tone and motivate us for the rest of the season."
 
SEASON OPENER
The 2017 edition of the Purple and Gold debut at home on Friday, January 13th, with a 5:00 p.m. non-league showdown with Marymount University, a team that received votes in the AVCA preseason poll. Elmira, who also received votes in the national poll, has never faced Marymount in its brief six-year history and will look to score a win against one of the top teams from the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC).