Score: NYU 3, Elmira College 0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-15)
Records: Elmira (5-6, 0-2 UVC), NYU (5-4, 2-0 UVC)
Location: Brooklyn Athletic Facility -- Brooklyn, N.Y.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's volleyball team concluded the opening weekend of United Volleyball Conference (UVC) play with a straight-set loss on the road against New York University on Saturday afternoon.

Although the Soaring Eagles finished with one more kill than the Violets, NYU held advantages in hitting percentage (.314-to-.194), blocks (9-to-4), and service aces (12-to-3). As a result, the host Violets secured the conference win by scores of 25-22, 25-14, and 25-15.

EC outhit NYU in the opening set, recording a match-best 11 kills while swinging at a rate of .179. The Soaring Eagles found themselves trailing 7-2 early but won the next five points to level the score. Matt Straney '20 was responsible for two kills during the rally, and Jose Malave '21 tossed an ace to tie things at 7-all. Straney and Ryan McDonough '19 then helped Elmira gain its first lead by teaming up for a double-block, followed by a McDonough kill that gave the Purple and Gold up 10-8.

Trailing 13-10, NYU found momentum and pieced together a run of six unanswered points to take the lead for good in the set. EC came within one of the Violets, 19-18, before the Violets captured four of the next six points to distance themselves from the Soaring Eagles.

Elmira's best offensive set came in the third, as the team floored 10 kills with just three errors for a .438 attack percentage. Alas, NYU countered with its best set, hitting .714 with 11 kills and one error.

Garrett Coleman '20 led EC with 10 kills, followed by McDonough with eight. In his collegiate debut, Matt Amoddio '22 logged three kills without an error for a .600 attack percentage. Straney paced all Soaring Eagles with three block assists to go along with four kills.

News and Notes

• In his first appearance of the year, Amoddio had three kills and one total block.
• Coleman produced double-digit kills for the sixth time this season.
• Coleman hit a season-best .533 against NYU.
• Setter Jeremy Best '19 added 26 assists to his season total, which is up to 424 through the first 11 matches of the year.
• With four digs, Ryan Branigan '19 upped his season total to a team-best 80.

Up Next
Elmira will resume non-conference play on Wednesday, February 13, when the Soaring Eagles visit Daemen College for a 6:00 p.m. match.