Score: Johnson & Wales University 3- Elmira College 2 (25-13, 24-26, 27-29, 25-23, 20-18)
Records: Johnson & Wales (4-3), Elmira (1-10)
Location: Kidera Gymnasium – Rochester, N.Y.
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's volleyball team lost a heart-breaking five-set match to Johnson & Wales University by a final score of 3-2 in its last competition of the Golden Flyer Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

The Soaring Eagles struggled to get off of the ground in the first set, as the Wildcats surged out to a 10-3 lead. Johnson & Wales continued its aggression, quickly taking the set 25-13.

EC started to battle back in the second set, as they went up 7-3 early, after a Matthew Buffum '18 kill. Both programs traded points until Elmira took a 16-9 advantage with another Buffum kill that was assisted by Jeremy Best '19. The Wildcats battled back to draw the score up at 24-all, but the Soaring Eagles answered by taking the next two points, to take the set 26-24. Ryan McDonough '18 ended the set with one of his match-high 17 kills.

Elmira got off to a slow start in the third set, as they quickly found themselves down 16-7. Despite facing the early deficit, the Soaring Eagles went on a 13-3 run to take a 20-19 advantage in the set. The teams continued to battle to a 27-all score, until two straight errors by the Wildcats, gave EC the set 29-27.

The fourth set was tightly contested, as neither program took a lead larger than three points. The Soaring Eagles found themselves down 24-22 late in the set when a Johnson & Wales' error cut its deficit to 24-23. Unfortunately for EC, Matt LaVasseur answered with a kill to give the Wildcats the set.

Tied at two sets apiece, the teams had to play a decisive fifth set. Johnson & Wales took an early 4-0 lead in the final set. Finding themselves down 4-0, Elmira took a timeout to try and regroup. Following the timeout, the Soaring Eagles got back into the match after going on a 3-1 surge. Elmira took its first lead of the final set, 16-15, after a two-straight Wildcats' errors. After earning the late lead, EC would drop five out of the next seven points to give Johnson & Wales the set, 20-18, and the match, 3-2.

Turning Point
Elmira found itself in prime position after winning the second on third sets, as they had to win just one of the next two to take the victory. The Soaring Eagles battled in the fourth set to take a late 20-19 lead. Although Elmira held the slim lead, the Wildcats answered and took the set 25-23. The fifth set mirrored the forth, as EC had its chances to take the set, but it was unable to take advantage of those opportunities.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Johnson & Wales outhit the Soaring Eagles in terms of attack percentage (.265-to-.161) and total kills (67-to-61).
• Both programs finished tied at 7-all in service aces.
• The Wildcats completed the contest with a slim lead in blocks, 9-5.
• EC finished just two digs behind Johnson and Wales, 62-60.
• McDonough posted a double-double with a match-high 17 kills and 12 digs.
• Senior Mark Kawecki '17 also posted a double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs.
• Ryan Branigan '19 finished the contest with a game-high-tying 16 digs.
• Best posted 53 assists in the match.
• The Wildcats' Cameron Ponce finished with a game-high 55 assists.
• Brendan Baker posted the only double-double for Johnson and Wales with 16 kills and 12 digs.

News and Notes

• Elmira's record falls to 1-10 overall.
• Today's loss drops EC's record in five-set matches to 1-3.
• The Wildcats improve to 2-0 all-time against the Soaring Eagles.
• Best's 53 assists are a new career high for the sophomore.
• The last Elmira player to post at least 53 assists was Carlos Faccio '16, who did so on March 19th of last season.
• Kawecki's double-double was the first of his season.
• Kawecki's 15 kills tied a season high and his 13 digs tied a career high.
• McDonough's double-double was the second of his junior campaign.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return home to play in the Elmira College Invitational at Speidel Gymnasium on Friday and Saturday, February 10th and 11th. EC will start off the invite with a 4:00 p.m. bout against Southern Vermont College and an 8:00 p.m. bout against D'Youville College on Friday.