Score: #3 SUNY New Paltz 3 – Elmira College 0
Score: Elmira College 3 – Bard College 0
Records: Elmira (8-17, 1-4 UVC), New Paltz (18-4, 2-1 UVC), Bard (4-15, 0-4 UVC)
Location: Hawk Center – New Paltz, N.Y.
 
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. -- After dropping its first match of the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Crossover at SUNY New Paltz to the host third-ranked Hawks, 3-0, the Elmira College men's volleyball team earned its first conference win of the season with a dominant straight-set victory over Bard College, 25-12, 25-10, 25-20.

The match started off tightly contested as the score sat at 4-3 in favor of the Hawks after the first seven points. At that moment, New Paltz started to pull away, going on a 6-1 run to surge ahead by a 10-4 score. The Hawks' lead never dipped below six points for the remainder of the contest, as they went on to win the set by a score of 25-10.

EC started the second set with an increased intensity, as it stormed out to a quick 8-5 lead. Matthew Buffum '18 gave Elmira the lead with a monstrous kill right at the net. The Soaring Eagles seemed to be cruising along, growing their lead to as high as six points, 18-12. From that juncture, however, the Hawks started a comeback, winning the next six points, which evened the score at 18-18. EC had no answers for the New Paltz attack and was resigned to take the 25-22 setback.

The third set was tightly contested to start, as the score sat tied at 13-all after the first 26 points. Buffum evened up the score with a kill that was assisted by Jeremy Best '19. Despite the evenness of the start of the set, the backend was very much one-sided in favor of the Hawks. New Paltz went on to win 12 of the next 15 points to seal the straight-set win.

Elmira started the second match of the day against Bard with a new found intensity. With the score tied at 5-all, the Soaring Eagles took control and went on an 11-1 run to take a commanding 16-6 lead. Dan Symer '19 helped fuel the run with a team-high two kills in the stretch. EC's domination continued, as it went on to beat the Raptors, 25-12, in the first.

The second set mirrored the first, as Elmira continued to dominate Bard, never trailing in the set. The Soaring Eagles started the second on a 9-1 surge to take a commanding lead. EC's advantage grew as high as 13 points, 19-6, following a Buffum ace. Elmira continued its pressure, as it cruised to a 25-10 win.

The third set was much tighter than the previous two, as the score sat at 16-all late in the match. At this point, the Soaring Eagles ramped up their offensive pressure and reeled off four-straight points and go ahead, 20-16. EC maintained its advantage for the remainder of the third to earn its first UVC triumph of the season.

In Their Own Words...
Head Coach Daniel Miranda on what was working well in the match against Bard...
"Our serve was working very well and the men were doing it consistently. We were able to go on runs and we remained confident."
 
Coach Miranda on Jeremy Best and Colin Morrison's noteworthy performances against the Raptors...
"Jeremy's energy and focus kept our team disciplined and raised the team's expectations for our defensive mindset. The team's success was also due in large part to Colin's defensive leadership."

Inside the Box Score (New Paltz)

• The Soaring Eagles posted a .087 hitting percentage on a 23k-17e-69ta stat line.
• New Paltz recorded a .294 clip on a 33k-13e-68ta stat line.
• The Hawks out-assisted EC, 31-20.
• Elmira finished the contest with just one ace, compared to New Paltz's 13.
• The Soaring Eagles assisted on 20 of their 23 kills.
• EC posted just two blocks, compared to the Hawks' six.
• Buffum paced Elmira with eight kills.
• Best finished with 19 of the Soaring Eagles' 20 assists.
• Mark Kawecki '17 led EC with seven digs.

Inside the Box Score (Bard)

• The Soaring Eagles recorded a .403 hitting percentage on a 35k-6e-72ta stat line.
• Bard posted a .000 clip on a 19k-19e-81ta stat line.
• Elmira dominated in blocks, besting the Raptors 4-1.
• EC out-dug Bard, 38-29.
• Both teams finished with six service aces.
• Symer posted a match-high 11 kills.
• Best assisted on 22 of the Soaring Eagles' 35 kills.
• Best also posted a team-high 10 digs to record a double-double.
• Colin Morrison '19 finished with nine digs of his own.

News and Notes

• After splitting today's contest, Elmira's record sits at 8-17.
• The victory over the Raptors was EC's first UVC win of the year.
• The Soaring Eagles now have six straight-set victories on the season.
• Elmira's .403 hitting percentage is a new season-high mark.
• The last time that EC has posted a clip higher than .403 was in a March 28, 2016, matchup against Junianta College, where it recorded a .439 average in the 3-1 win.
• Bard's .000 clip is the lowest by a Soaring Eagles' opponent this season.
• Elmira's one service ace against the Hawks tied a season low.
• EC's two blocks against New Paltz are tied for the second-lowest total that they have posted this season.
• The Hawks' 13 aces are the third most by the most by a Soaring Eagles' opponent.
• Best's 10 digs are a new career high for the sophomore.
• Added with his 22 assists, Best recorded the first double-double of his career.
• Morrison also set a new career high with nine digs.
• Symer's 11 kills tied the second-highest mark of his season.  
• Best's 19-assist performance against New Paltz ended a nine-match streak of the sophomore setter reaching at least 20 helpers.

Up Next
Elmira returns to action this Thursday, March 16, when it travels to Buffalo, New York, to challenge D'Youville College. The non-conference match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Spartans' College Center Gym.