Score: Nazareth College 3 – Elmira College 0
Records: Nazareth (16-8, 2-1 UVC), Elmira (7-16, 0-3 UCV)
Location: Kidera Gymnasium – Rochester, N.Y.
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Elmira College Men's volleyball team fell to United Volleyball Conference (UVC) adversary Nazareth College in straight sets, 27-25, 25-19, 25-22, on Wednesday night at the Golden Flyers' Kidera Gymnasium in Rochester, New York.  

The first set started off fast and furious, as the teams traded points until the score sat tied at 7-all. The Soaring Eagles got the early advantage, going up 12-9 after a Ryan McDonough '18 kill. This hole did not keep the Golden Flyers down for long, as they went on a 5-0 run to take a 14-12 lead.

Things really got interesting in the first, after Naz took a 23-19 advantage. Facing the four-point deficit, EC fought back and went on a 4-0 push to even the score at 23-all. Dan Symer '19 capped off the run with a service ace, EC's lone ace of the night. Ultimately, it proved to not be enough, as Nazareth took the set, 27-25, after reeling off two straight points with the score tied 25-25.

The start of the second set mirrored the first, as the teams battled to another early tie, 8-all. From that point, however, the Golden Flyers started to pull away, going on an 8-4 surge to take a 16-12 advantage. The lead continued to grow throughout the second, with Naz taking a set-high seven-point advantage, 22-15, after a McDonough attack error. A Symer attack error, seven points later, gave Nazareth the 25-19 victory in the second.

Elmira got off to a hot start in the third set, as the Purple and Gold quickly surged ahead by a score of 5-2 following a big Matthew Buffum '18 block. EC held the lead until a Sam Bittker block evened the score at 6-6.

The Golden Flyers looked as if they had control of the set, as they grew their lead to 18-14. However, the Soaring Eagles did not go down quietly, going on a 5-0 run to recapture the lead, 19-18 lead. Buffum capped off the run with a kill that was assisted by setter Jeremy Best '19. Naz immediately answered with a 4-0 run of its own to regain the advantage, 22-19, which prompted a timeout from Head Coach Daniel Miranda. The stoppage in play did not have much effect on Nazareth, as it went on to win three of the next six points to seal the straight-set victory.    

Turning Point
The main differentiating factor in tonight's match was the teams' hitting percentages. Elmira got off to a good start in the first, hitting the ball at a .324 clip, besting Naz's .268 mark, despite losing the set. The second was where things got away from the Soaring Eagles, as they posted a -.033 attack percentage, compared to the Golden Flyers' .391 clip. Nazareth again outhit EC in the third, .194-to-.158. This advantage in hitting gave Naz the edge that it needed to seal the victory.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira posted a .157 hitting percentage on a 37k-21e-102ta stat line.
• Naz, on the other hand, completed the match with a .270 clip on a 41k-14e-100ta stat line.
• The Soaring Eagles bested Nazareth in digs, 33-32.
• The assists totals also finished close, with the Golden Flyers taking the 38-35 lead.
• EC struggled to gain an advantage in its service game, as it finished with just one ace, compared to Nazareth's seven.
• McDonough paced all players with a match-high 11 kills.
• Buffum and Matt Straney '20 finished tied for the team lead with two blocks.
• Best assisted on 32 of Elmira's 37 kills.
• Libero Ryan Branigan '19 posted a match-high-tying nine digs for the Soaring Eagles.

 
News and Notes

• EC fell to 7-16 overall and 0-3 in UVC competition for the season.
• All three of Elmira's losses in conference play have come in straight sets.
• The Golden Flyers have won four-straight contests against the Soaring Eagles, expanding their lead in the all-time series to 11-2.
• Today's .157 hitting percentage ended Elmira's two-match streak of hitting above .200, a mark that it has hit in three of its last five matches.
• EC's lone service ace tied a season-low mark.
• Best extended his streak of recording at least 32 kills to three-straight outings.  

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles travel to New Paltz, New York, to play in a UVC Crossover on Saturday, March 11. The first match against the host SUNY New Paltz Hawks is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. and the second contest against Bard College is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.