Score: Elmira College 3 – Keuka College 0
Records: Elmira (7-15), Keuka (2-6)
Location: JMW Center – Keuka Park, N.Y.
 
KEUKA PARK, N.Y. -- The Elmira College Men's volleyball team earned a straight-set victory (25-21, 25-18, 27-25) over Keuka College tonight at the Wolves' JMW Center. The Soaring Eagles were clicking on all cylinders tonight, as they finished the match with 40 assists on their 41 kills, led by a match-high 32 helpers from sophomore setter Jeremy Best '19.  

The match started off tight, with both teams trading points, until the score sat deadlocked at 21-all. At that point, EC took control of the set, winning the next four points and taking the first 25-21. Matthew Buffum '18 started the run with one of his team-high six kills in the opening set. Buffum was very efficient, as he completed the first with a strong .857 hitting percentage with six kills on his seven attempts while committing no errors.

Keuka got off to a hot start in the second set, surging out to a quick 2-0 lead. The Soaring Eagles then answered by winning the next three point to go ahead 3-2. Ryan McDonough '18 capped off the quick run by taking a Best set and posting one of his two second-set kills.

The teams continued to battles until the Wolves sat ahead by a score of 12-10. However, EC would not stay down for long, as it took 15 of the next 21 points, taking the set, 25-18. The push was charged by the play of Henry Cleveland '20. The freshman outside hitter accounted for three kills in that span. Overall, Cleveland posted four kills in the set and finished with a .800 hitting percentage on his five total attempts.

The third set, like the first two, was tightly contested. Keuka got the edge early, as a Connor Gail kill put it up 10-7. Elmira did not let this deficit deter it, as they evened up the score at 10-all after taking advantage of three straight Wolves' errors to win the next three points. The teams continued to go back and forth, as they battled to an 18-18 tie.

After tying the score at 18-all, the Soaring Eagles went on to win the next four points, taking a 22-18 advantage. Elmira looked poised to take the set and the game, as a Mark Kawecki '17 kill put it up 24-21. However, the Wolves had other ideas, as they went on to win the next three points to even the score at 24-all.  

The teams went back and forth for the next four points, until the score sat deadlocked at 25-25. From this point, EC took over and won the next two points which gave them the set, 27-25, and the match. Best recorded the match-winning kill, one of his three on the day.

Turning Point
Elmira's main strength tonight was its efficient hitting. The Soaring Eagles finished the match with a .287 hitting percentage, while the Wolves ended with a .097 clip. This difference in attack percentages is illustrated in each team's attack errors. EC finished the match with 16 errors, while Keuka finished with 21. The Wolves' errors came at critical points in the match for the Soaring Eagles and gave them the edge that they needed to take the straight-set victory.

In Their Own Words...
Head Coach Daniel Miranda on Matthew Buffum's strong performance tonight...
"He was able to have success by staying in constant communication with Jeremy. He continually made himself an option, no matter where the pass was."
 
Coach Miranda on his team's underclassmen stepping up and playing well tonight...
"I have to credit the team success to the underclassmen stepping up and taking a leadership role. Joe Hewes '19 was very consistent on the serve receive, Henry Cleveland was a major offensive presence both on the right side and the outside and Colin Morrison '19 was crucial with coverages off the block which are a major stat for the coaches record."  
 
Coach Miranda on the importance of taking today's momentum into next Wednesday's meeting with Nazareth College...
"Tonight was a great test for the whole roster, and everyone responded to the challenge. It's the exact team win that we need to prepare for a pivotal conference match next week. It's awesome for the guys to have momentum leading into that matchup."

Inside the Box Score

• EC hit at a .287 clip for the match on a 41k-16e-87ta stat line.
• The Wolves earned a .097 attack percentage on a 30k-21e-93ta stat line.
• Elmira dominated in assists with 40, compared to Keuka's 29.
• The Soaring Eagles finished with an 8-6 advantage in blocks.
• In terms of aces, EC took a slim 4-3 lead.
• Buffum finished the contest with match highs in both kills (14) and hitting percentage (.813).
• Buffum also posted a match-high-tying four blocks.
• Best led all players with a match-high 32 assists.
• Ryan Branigan '19 posted a match-high-tying eight digs.
• Cleveland finished second on Elmira with six kills.

News and Notes

• Elmira improves to 7-15 on the season.
• The Soaring Eagles remain undefeated in the all-time series against the Wolves with a perfect 2-0 record.
• Today's victory is EC's fifth straight-set win of the year.  
• Elmira's five solo blocks are a new season high.
• EC's .287 hitting percentage is its fourth-highest mark of the season. 
• Buffum's 14 kills are tied for his second-highest total of the year.
• Buffum's .813 attack percentage trails only his .900 clip from the February 10 win against D'Youville.
• Best's three blocks tied his second-highest mark of the season.

 
Up Next
Elmira will take a week-long break from competition, until they travel to Rochester, New York, to face Nazareth College on Wednesday, March 8. The United Volleyball Conference (UVC) tilt is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. at Nazareth's Kidera Gymnasium.