Score: MIT 3, Elmira College 1 [25-20, 19-25, 25-16, 25-21]
Records: MIT (13-6, 5-4 UVC), Elmira (9-14, 1-5 UVC)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.
                       
ELMIRA N.Y. -- After splitting the first two sets, momentum in today's contest teetered between the squads, but in the end the Engineers of MIT prevailed in four sets against the Elmira College men's volleyball team in United Collegiate Volleyball (UVC) action.
 
MIT hit at a 21.4-percent clip in the opening set, and limited EC to a 3.8-percent success rate to claim the opener, 25-20. Elmira held early leads in the set, as many as four, but MIT chipped away throughout the set to tie it at 18-18. However, a 6-0 run by the Engineers gave the visitors a six-point lead, which all but clinched the set for MIT.
 
In the second set, a pair of 4-0 runs through the first 11 points of the match helped the Soaring Eagles claim a 9-2 lead. Ryan McDonough '19 fueled the run behind two kills and a service ace.

MIT clawed its way back into the set, 15-10, but another 4-0 run by Elmira, sparked by a trio of Landon Miller '20 kills, put the Purple and Gold on top, 19-10. The Engineers pulled within four points of Elmira, 23-19, but a pair of kills by McDonough closed out the set to give the Soaring Eagles a 25-19 win and level the match at one set apiece.
 
The third set saw MIT hold slim leads and go up by five points, 17-12. However, Elmira closed the gap with a 4-2 run to bring EC to within three points, 19-16. Unfortunately, the Engineers went on to close out the set with six unanswered points to win the set 25-16. Skylar Kaufman was the driving force during that 6-0 run, as the senior middle hitter produced one kill and a pair of blocks.
 
It looked as though tonight's match would go into a fifth set, as Elmira controlled the opening stages of the fourth set. The Elmira men held a pair of five-point leads, including a 17-12 advantage, and looked to have all the momentum going into the final stages of the set.
 
MIT once again chipped away at the Elmira lead, bringing the score to 19-16. An EC service error on the ensuing point put the ball in the hands of Nathan Wing, who held his serve for six consecutive points to give the Engineers a 23-19 advantage. The momentum shift was enough to see MIT to the finish line, as the Engineers held on for a 25-21 win to clinch the match, 3-sets-to-1.
 
McDonough finished with a double-double for the Soaring Eagles with 17 kills and 13 digs, to go along with two service aces and a pair of blocks. Jose Malave '21 also produced double-digit kills with 13, to go along with seven digs and one service ace.
 
Matt Straney '20 had a solid night with seven kills, five digs, a trio of blocks and one service ace. Dan Symer '19 chipped in with eight kills and seven digs, while Ryan Branigan '19 produced 10 digs as EC's starting libero.
 
Jeremy Best '19 orchestrated the Elmira attack with 48 assists, while logging five digs, three kills and a pair of blocks.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira held the edge in digs, 47-32 and kills, 55-42.
• McDonough has tallied double-digit kills in seven straight matches.
• McDonough posted his first double-double of the season (17k-10d)
• Best has now tallied at least 40 assists in 11 matches this season.
• With two blocks tonight, Best's career-total sits at 192, which ranks seventh in Elmira history.
• Branigan recorded double-digit digs for the ninth time this season.
• Branigan now ranks fourth all-time in program history with 687. 
• With three blocks, Straney brought his season total to 39.0

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to action tomorrow afternoon to conclude the EC Invitational with a pair of non-league matches. The Soaring Eagles open the day with a 12:00 p.m. showdown against Rutgers-Newark, before closing out the day with a 2:00 p.m. tilt against D'Youville. Both contests will take place inside Elmira's home court at Speidel Gymnasium.