ELMIRA, N.Y. -- After posting a 2-1 record at last weekend's SUNY Poly Invitational, the Elmira College men's volleyball team returns to the hardwood to face the Wolves of Keuka College. The non-conference match is set for Wednesday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m. inside KC's Gymnasium in Keuka Park, New York.
LAST TIME OUT: The Soaring Eagles went 1-1 on the final day of the SUNY Poly Invitational, hosted by the Wildcats in Marcy, New York. Elmira dropped the first match in straight sets to Rivier, before edging Arcadia in five sets to wrap up the day's action. EC's defense deserves most of the credit for the win against the Knights, as the Purple and Gold amassed a season-high 73 digs and the second-highest single-match block total of the year with 12.0 rejections.
CAREER-HIGH MARKS FOR ELMIRA: Several Soaring Eagles logged career-high numbers at last weekend's SUNY Poly Invitational. EC setter
Jeremy Best '19, who is more known for his passing ability, registered a career-high six blocks against Arcadia.
Ryan Branigan '19,
Ryan McDonough '18 and
Mark Kawecki '17 each recorded career-high digs against the Knights with 21, 17 and 16, respectively.
SEEING DOUBLE: McDonough's career-high 17 digs against Arcadia was accompanied by 18 kills, marking the fourth time this season the junior talent has registered a double-double. Not to be outdone by his teammate, Kawecki also logged a double-double, his second of the season, against the Knights with 12 kills and a career-high 16 digs. McDonough and Kawecki are the only two Soaring Eagles with double-doubles on the year.
SCOUTING KEUKA: After opening the season with triumphs in two of its first three contests, Keuka College has hit a rough patch and enters Wednesday's non-conference tilt on a four-match skid. The Wolves own four-set wins over Mount Ida College and Wilson College, but have been shut out in four of their five losses, including the team's most recent setback on the road at Wells College. Connor Gail and Jared Kucko are the Wolves' top two hitting options, as the duo has combined for 121 of Keuka's 233 kills (51.9%). Gail is the more efficient of the two, as the junior outside hitter owns a team-leading .230 attack percentage to go along with a team-best 2.96 kills per set. Defensively, Nick Cantando paces Keuka with 2.08 digs per set, while Colin Steele is the team's leading blocker with 1.00 rejections per set.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Wednesday's non-conference tilt will be the second all-time meeting between Elmira and Keuka. The Soaring Eagles won the lone matchup between the two teams last season when the Purple and Gold scored a four-set victory on senior night at Speidel Gymnasium.
LOOKING AHEAD: Elmira will enjoy a seven-day break from competition, until the Soaring Eagles travel to face the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College on Wednesday, March 8. The United Volleyball Conference (UVC) bout is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. at Nazareth's Kidera Gymnasium.
