Score: Elmira College 3, Bard College 0 (25-8, 25-14, 25-20)
Score: Elmira College 3, Misericordia University 0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-16)
Records: Elmira (10-4, 1-0 UVC), Bard (0-10, 0-1 UVC), Misericordia (5-6)
Location: Elmira, N.Y. -- Speidel Gymnasium
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's volleyball team earned a pair of straight-set victories at today's home tri-match at Speidel Gymnasium. The Soaring Eagles began the day with a win over Bard College to start United Volleyball Conference (UVC) play, before besting Misericordia University in the nightcap.

It was a complete-team effort in Elmira's opening match of the day against Bard, as 13 Soaring Eagles received playing time in the match. Matthew Buffum '18 and Dan Symer '19 paced the team in kills with eight apiece. Both players were efficient in their attacks, as Buffum posted a match-high .583 hitting percentage, while Symer hit at a .429 clip.  

Jose Malave '21 was another critical component of EC's offensive success, as the team won 12-straight points on his serve in the opening set. This surge gave the Soaring Eagles a commanding 13-1 lead after the first 14 points, before taking the set by a 25-8 final score. For the match, Malave led all players with four service aces.

The second and third sets were alike, as Elmira lost the first point before taking a lead that Bard was unable to regain. The Purple and Gold went on to win the second, 25-14, and the third, 25-20, with neither ever feeling in question.  

The second match of the day was very similar to the first, as the Soaring Eagles stormed out to a convincing lead. Elmira went ahead 9-2 after the first 11 points. Ryan McDonough '19 served during four of those points and recorded one ace and one kill in that span. This early lead allowed EC to take the set, 25-13.

The second set mirrored the first, as Elmira against found itself up 9-2 after 11 points. This time Malave again propelled Elmira with his stellar service game. His three-straight aces in that stretch helped the Soaring Eagles take momentum in the set. The Purple and Gold held on to this advantage to take the second, 25-10.

In the third, Landon Miller '20 led the Soaring Eagles by earning four consecutive points by himself when the score sat at 5-4 in EC's favor. The 6-foot-4-inch middle bookended two-straight block assists with a pair of kills. Miller extended EC's lead even further with four consecutive points on his serve to put the score at 15-6 in Elmira's favor, which led to EC winning the set, 25-16, and the match in straight sets.

EC's starting setter, Jeremy Best '19, ended the nightcap with 30 of Elmira's 36 assists, bringing his total for the day to 46. Ryan Branigan '19 posted 13 assists in the opening set, his highest total of the season.

Malave paced all players in the match with 10 kills and four service aces, while hitting at an astounding .769 clip. Miller was also stellar with six kills, four blocks and a .714 hitting percentage. As a team, EC hit owned a .615 attack percentage, a new single-match program record.

In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Daniel Miranda on the way Elmira performed during Sunday's tri-match…
"It was a perfect way to start off the conferences matches. The guys stayed consistent and played tough throughout the entire matches. Many guys got opportunities to kind of step up and take on different roles and were able to take advantage. I am really happy with where we are right now. It's a huge step up from last year."
 
Coach Miranda when asked about the difference between a lackluster 2017 and the stellar start in 2018…
"Experience. Guys have been in the moment before, but last year everything was new. Our leaders have been leaders for over a year now and guys know who to go to in pressure situations. They know who they can count on and guys are stepping up when those moments happen."
 
Coach Miranda on winning in straight-sets, in comparison to some of the stressful five-set matches EC has engaged in already this year…
"It feels a lot more comforting know that we are establishing ourselves and staying consistent throughout. We're hoping we can continue that momentum and keep on rolling."
 
News and Notes

• EC has opened the season 10-4 overall, just one victory away from tying last season's total.
• The Soaring Eagles set a new single-match program record in hitting percentage with a .615 clip in the bout against Misericordia.
• The Purple and Gold have started the season a perfect 6-0 at home.
• Elmira's 3-0 sweep of Bard was the first conference-opening win for the Soaring Eagles since January 29, 2014, when they beat No. 15 Medaille College in four sets.
• The Soaring Eagles have won five matches in straight sets so far this year.
• EC improved to 9-0 all-time against the Raptors.
• Hewes recorded the first kill of his career against Bard.
• With six kills in the first match of the day, Straney tied his career high.
• Buffum moved into second-place all-time in program history with 211 block assists, trailing only Dylan Kuhn '16 (280).
• Buffum logged an attack percentage of .400-or-higher in nine matches so far in his senior campaign and has posted five-or-more blocks on six occasions.
• Symer posted a .429 hitting percentage in both matches today, which marked his second-highest rate of the season.
• Malave's .769 attack percentage against the Cougars is the second-highest total he has recorded this season.
• Malave tied a season-high with four aces against Misericordia.
• Miller's .714 hitting clip against the Cougars is a season-high for the sophomore.  

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will next compete in a UVC Tri-Match hosted by Bard on Saturday, January 17. EC opens the event with a 3:30 p.m. showdown against No. 14 SUNY New Paltz at the Stevenson Athletic Center in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.