ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's volleyball team is back in action this weekend, as the Soaring Eagles travel to compete in the Golden Dome Invitational, hosted by the University of Rutgers-Newark.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Elmira dropped its season opener at home to visiting Marymount University in four sets (27-29, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18). EC saved three set points in the opening frame, before pulling away late for a 29-27 victory. Elmira's consistent passing set up a bevy of good looks, as the Soaring Eagles hit .375 in the opening set (12k-3e-29ta). However, Elmira's hitting numbers dipped with each passing set, allowing Marymount settle into a groove and claim the next three sets.
 
SOLID START FROM BUFFUM: There should not be many complaints on how Matthew Buffum '18 played in Elmira's season opener against Marymount. The junior middle hitter produced a team-leading .538 attack percentage on an 8k-1e-13ta stat line. His eight kills were the second-highest single-match total in two years for the Chesterfield, Missouri, native. He also served up one ace and had a hand in two block assists at the net.
 
SERVE-RECEIVE HEADACHES: Elmira committed 16 receiving errors in its loss to Marymount last Friday. The 16 receiving errors were a program high for the Soaring Eagles, who made 13 of their 16 errors in the second, third and fourth sets. Elmira will need to improve in this area in a hurry, as the Purple and Gold are a mere 3-11 all-time when committing 10 or more receiving errors.
 
SCOUTING RUTGERS-NEWARK: The Scarlet Raiders will open their 2017 campaign at this weekend's invite on Friday with matches against sixth-ranked UC Santa Cruz and Elmira College. Rutgers-Newark is coming off of a fantastic season in 2016, one that culminated in 24 wins, a trip to the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) title game and a postseason berth into the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship. Rutgers-Newark returns its top two hitters from a season ago in Jack Fredricks and Corey Pieper, who combined for 522 kills. Fredricks was an AVCA Second-Team All-American in 2016, after leading Scarlet Knights with a 2.79 kills per set average and a .325 attack percentage. However, things may be a little more difficult for Fredricks and Pieper this season, after the graduation of a pair of AVCA All-Americans in middle hitter Cody Chidsey and starting setter Kevin McCandless.  
 
SCOUTING JUNIATA: Juniata College will also open the 2017 season at this weekend's Golden Dome Invitational, starting with a Friday-night tilt against third-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology. The Eagles, who own a share of the No. 15 national ranking according to the AVCA, will be hoping to turn things around this year after a bumpy 2016 season. Juniata suffered through a 10-16 showing a year ago, which was the program's third-worst season to date. However, the Eagles have a lot to look forward to, especially with the return of AVCA Second-Team All-American Kyle Seeley. The 6-foot-8-inch middle blocker led the team with 303 kills (3.19 kps) and 70 blocks (12 solos) in 2016, and will surely be a key player moving forward.
 
SCOUTING LASELL: The Lasell Lasers will not be in action on Friday night like the rest of EC's opponents, but instead will open the 2017 campaign on Saturday against the Soaring Eagles. Lasell was 16-13 last season and qualified for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament as the second-seeded team. Patrick MacDonald and Tristan Davis are back for their senior-year campaigns, after producing 316 and 235 kills, respectively. MacDonald was a First-Team All-GNAC honoree a season ago and will look to duplicate his 3.16 kills per set average in 2017. Elmira will also need to be leery of the serving ability of Davis, who already owns Lasell's all-time record for career aces (113).