Match 1: Elms College 3, Elmira College 0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-15)
Match 2: Springfield College, Elmira College 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-13)
Records: Elmira (6-8), Elms (10-3), Springfield (12-1)
Location: Blake Arena – Springfield, Ma.

SPRINGFIELD, MA. -- The Elmira College men's volleyball team fought valiantly, but fell to a pair of opponents making waves on the national stage on Saturday evening, as the Soaring Eagles dropped a pair of three-set battles to Elms College and Springfield College.

Match 1
The first match of the evening saw the Purple and Gold challenge the Blazers of Elms College, who received votes in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.

The Blazers had a strong presence at the net that made the difference, as Elms hit .392 as a team and posted 9.5 total blocks. The Soaring Eagles matched the opposition with six service aces, but EC was unable to keep up with the consistent attack of Elms.

Ryan McDonough '19 led the way for the Purple and Gold with a team-high eight kills and three aces. Jeremy Best '19 orchestrated Elmira's attack with a match-high 25 assists. The Blazers were paced by Jovanny Torres, who finished with nine kills.

The opening set was the tightest affair of the match, as Elmira went blow-for-blow with Elms. The score was knotted on 10 separate occasions throughout the set, but EC was unable to create any separation. Trailing 21-20, McDonough floored a kill to level the score. Unfortunately, the Blazers used a 4-0 run to take the set.

Match 2
In the second match of the evening, Elmira took on No.1-ranked Springfield College. Despite the Purple and Gold's best efforts, they were unable to keep pace with the top-ranked Pride, as Springfield earned a straight-sets victory.

The Pride found their success through Eli Irizarry Pares, who tallied a match-high nine kills. Springfield amassed a .417 team-hitting percentage as Elmira could not match the Pride's attack. Matt Straney '20 led the way for EC with seven kills. Best finished with 15 assists.

News and Notes

• McDonough finished with a combined 11 kills.
• Best tallied 40 assists across both matches.
• Best now has 2,964 assists for his career.
• Straney has tallied at least one kill in all but one match this season.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles are back in action on Wednesday, February 20, when they trek to Keuka Park, New York, for a non-conference match against Kueka College. Opening serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.