ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's volleyball team closed out action at the Cardinal Classic with a three-set loss [25-18, 25-13, 25-21] to St. John Fisher College, which hosted the weekend invite. Elmira remains in search of its first win of the season with a 0-2 record, while the Cardinals of St. John Fisher improved to 2-1 on the year.
 
Rookie Luke Milligan '23 finished with a team-high six kills, as well as four digs, one service ace and a block assist. Fellow classmate Tyler Anderson '23 was close behind with five kills to go along with one dig, one service ace and one block assist.
 
Garrett Coleman '20 produced team highs in assists (11) and digs (5), while Matt Straney '20 finished with a team-high three blocks. Straney's blocks came via one solo block and a pair of block assists.
 
The story of today's match can be told by each team's hitting efficiency, as the Cardinals connected at a 32.9% clip (33k-10e-70ta), while the Soaring Eagles swung at a -4.2% rate (19k-22e-71ta).
 
Fisher won the first two sets in similar fashions, creating separation early and riding out that momentum for the win. However, in the third set, Elmira sat in the driver's seat for the majority of play.
 
EC trailed in the third set by two points early on, but pieced together a 7-0 run to take a 15-10 lead. Six of the seven points were converted on Milligan's serve, which saw the freshman produce an ace. Additionally, Straney logged two of his three blocks during that stretch.
 
Elmira held a 20-15 lead and looked as though it was going to force a fourth set, but the Cardinals won 10 of the final 11 points to steal the set, 25-21, and win the match, 3-0.
 
News and Notes

• A freshman has led EC in kills in back-to-back matches.
• Coleman logged double-digit assists in consecutive contests.
• Brendan Leong '23 made his collegiate debut for the Soaring Eagles.

Up Next
Elmira returns to action on Saturday, January 25, when the team travels to Springfield, Massachusetts, to face the Gators of Sage at 5:00 p.m. EC will then battle Springfield in a 5:00 p.m. matinee to close out the weekend.