ELMIRA, NY –  The Elmira College Soaring Eagles hosted the Marymount University Saints on Thursday night at Speidel Gymnasium, coming away with their ninth consecutive win, tying the program's all-time longest streak of consecutive wins. The Purple & Gold are off to their best start in program history, ripping off nine-straight wins, tying the program record for consecutive wins in a season. The two other times EC reached nine straight wins was in 2014 and 2016. The Soaring Eagles' previous best start to a season was 5-0, set back in 2016 and 2022.

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 3, Marymount 2
LOCATION: Elmira, NY | Speidel Gymnasium
RECORDS: Elmira (9-0, 0-0 UVC), Marymount (4-5, 0-0 CVC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Jordan Peiser '24 finished with 26 of the Soaring Eagles' 69 kills. Luke Jata '27 (18) and Paten Buckwalter '28 (10) each also finished in double digits for EC in the winning effort.

Peiser had a great night serving the ball, leading the match with five service aces.

Max Cohen '25 had another huge night in the assist department, setting up a teammate successfully 57 times through the five sets. That results in a new career high for the senior, surpassing his previous high of 56.

After falling behind 2-1 following the third set, EC rallied for a gutsy win in the fourth set, 30-28. The Soaring Eagles jumped out to a 15-8 lead only to see it evaporate before their eyes. Unfazed, the Soaring Eagles battled back to send the match to extra points. With the game on the line numerous times, EC found a way to stave off the loss and get out of the set with a win.

The same string of events occurred in the final set. The Soaring Eagles and Saints were tied at 15 with the Saints serving. Jake Suffa '25 came up with a huge dig to spoil the attack from the Saints and the Soaring Eagles scored later on in the rally. Suffa's sacrifice of the body led directly to EC coming away with the win, via a Buckwalter kill during the next rally.
 

UP NEXT:
Elmira will travel to Elms College to take part in the Elms Tri Match on Saturday, Feb. 8. EC will first match up against the host at 2:00 p.m. and then battle the Gators of Russell Sage College directly after.