BUFFALO, N.Y. – Elmira men's volleyball traveled to Buffalo State for a tri-match against the Bengals and Highlanders on Saturday afternoon. After going down 2-1 in the first match against Buffalo State and trailing 22-19 in the fourth set, the Soaring Eagles came from behind to take the set 26-24. The Purple & Gold went on to win the fifth set 15-11 and claim the 3-2 victory over the hosts. Elmira then took care of Houghton in straight sets, earning a comfortable win over the Highlanders.
Edwin Sosa '25 led the Soaring Eagles in kills during both matches, notching 27 and nine, respectively. Jordan Peiser '24 tallied 15 kills during the first match, while Cache Littrell '27, Luke Jata '27, and Max Cohen '25 slammed eight in the second match.
JUST THE BASICS (Match 1):
Location: Buffalo, NY | Sports Arena
Score: Elmira: 3, Buffalo State: 2
Records: Elmira: (8-10, 1-4 UVC), Buffalo State (11-12)
JUST THE BASICS (Match 2):
Location: Buffalo, NY | Sports Arena
Score: Elmira: 3, Houghton: 0
Records: Elmira: (9-10, 1-4 UVC), Houghton (2-15)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Soaring Eagles held a 12-11 lead in the middle of the first set before a six-point unanswered streak gave them a comfortable seven-point lead they held onto for the remainder of the set, coming out on top 25-21. Jata paced the squad with five kills during the first set.
- EC would drop the second set, 27-25. After the Bengals took a 25-24 lead, a Sosa block kept the Soaring Eagles in the set. However, the hosts scored the following two points to take the set. Sosa notched a team-high seven kills during the second.
- Elmira started the third set strong, taking an early 5-1 lead. However, Buffalo State tied the set at 12 before scoring three more unanswered points to give it a 15-12 advantage. Another streak of six unanswered points by the Bengals put them ahead 23-16, and despite a late push by the Soaring Eagles, Buffalo State took the third 25-20, holding a 2-1 match lead going into the fourth set. Sosa notched his second seven-kill set of the afternoon during the third.
- The fourth set began with the Bengals holding a 5-1 lead before building their lead to 13-5 later in the round. Elmira scored five of the next six to cut its deficit to four, but Buffalo State was able to hold onto the lead late into the set, maintaining a 22-19 advantage before kills by Jata and Gabriel Staron '27 tied the set at 22. The Bengals retook the lead twice, bringing the score to 24-23, and put themselves within a point of victory. However, three straight Sosa kills ensured the match went to five sets, with the Soaring Eagles claiming a 27-25 set victory. Sosa once again led the team with seven kills during the round.
- The Bengals held a 9-7 lead in the match-deciding set. However, the Purple & Gold scored eight of the following 10 points, claiming the 15-11 victory in the final set. Peiser led the Soaring Eagles with five kills during the fifth set.
- The Soaring Eagles tallied nine blocks during the match, with five coming from Sosa and three from Peiser and Dylan Vargas '27.
- In Elmira's second match against Houghton, the Highlanders held an 11-8 lead in the first set before five straight Elmira points gave the Soaring Eagles a 13-11 lead. From there, EC coasted to a 25-16 victory, with Sosa and Jata leading the way with four kills.
- The Soaring Eagles once again found themselves trailing in the second set 6-4, but 11 unanswered points gave Elmira a commanding 15-6 lead. The Purple & Gold went on to take the set 25-12. Sosa and Jata led Elmira in kills once more, tallying five and four, respectively.
- The Highlanders held another lead to start the third at 9-8 before Elmira rattled off a 4-0 run to regain the lead at 12-9. From there, the Soaring Eagles did not relinquish their lead and took the third and final set 25-19. Cohen led the Purple & Gold with six kills in the third set, while Alex Vega '26 and Littrell had four and three, respectively.
- The Soaring Eagles finished their second match with a hitting percentage of .234, while Houghton only registered a .033 mark.
- Cohen finished both the games with 49 and 33 set assists, respectively.
- Connor Barton '27 notched three service aces during the second match.
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles head to St. John Fisher for their next match, taking on the Cardinals on Friday, March 22, at 7:00 p.m.
