ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College Department of Athletics announced the 2025 Athletics Hall of Fame Class on Tuesday afternoon. This year's honorees include Ellen Gibbs Matson (Coach/Administrator), Michael Vellutato '14 (Men's Volleyball), Carol Richards Gilbert '76 (Swimming), Victoria MacNeil Kuehner '08 (Women's Golf), and the 1997–98 Women's Basketball Team, which advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. The Class of 2025 marks the sixth group to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Ellen Gibbs Matson served Elmira College Athletics from 1979 to 1988 as a coach, Director of Intramurals, and Physical Education instructor. During her nine-year stay as head coach of the women's volleyball program (1979–87), she recorded 136 wins—the second-most in program history, including a pair of 20-win campaigns and three consecutive ECAC Playoff appearances from 1983–85.

She also spent five years as head coach of the women's basketball team (1979–84), guiding the Soaring Eagles to back-to-back winning seasons in 1981–82 and 1982–83. Matson coached one of Elmira's most prolific basketball players, Mary Kay Babcock '82—who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023—throughout her sophomore to senior seasons. Under Matson's leadership, Babcock set several program records that still stand today, including career rebounds (1,128), made field goals (632), points per game (17.6), and rebounds per game (13.6). Babcock remains one of just two players in program history to average a career double-double.

Following her time at Elmira, Matson went on to teach in the Elmira City School District and served as Interim Director of Athletics. She continued her support of EC athletics as a member of the Booster Club Board of Directors.

Michael Vellutato '14 played a pivotal role in launching Elmira College men's volleyball into national prominence during his four-year career. A dynamic setter, Vellutato remains the program's all-time leader in assists (4,953) and is the only player in program history to record more than 1,400 assists in a single season, a feat he accomplished in 2012.

A four-time All-UVC selection and 2014 AVCA First-Team All-American, Vellutato helped guide the Soaring Eagles to national rankings and earned UVC Player of the Year honors as a senior. That season, Elmira reached No. 10 in the final AVCA national poll.

Carol Richards Gilbert '76, one of the most accomplished swimmers in Elmira history, earned Hall of Fame recognition after setting multiple program records. Her time of 2:13.8 in the 200M Freestyle (1974) remains one of the program's top marks. She also held records in the 100M and 200M Individual Medley, 50M and 100M Breaststroke, 100M Backstroke, and 200M Freestyle. Alongside teammate Linda Sherman '74, Richards helped rewrite nearly every record in Elmira College swimming history.

The 1972–73 team, coached by John Marshall, finished with a 12-1-1 record and placed fourth at the State Relays hosted by Cornell University. That standout team featured Richards, Sherman, Tish Orr '76, Jean Wyatt '74, and Faith Lamprey '74.

Victoria MacNeil Kuehner '08 was a standout performer for the women's golf program and holds several records. She owns the single-season scoring average vs. par record (+10.10, 2007–08) and recorded four of the six lowest rounds in program history, including a 75 (+4) in the second round of the 2007 Williams Fall Classic. Her +9 total over the two-day event remains the lowest 36-hole score in program history.

MacNeil also delivered the second-lowest round in program history with a 76 (+4) during the final round of the 2008 NCAA Division III Championship. She finished tied for 29th overall with scores of 84, 82, 78, and 76, showing steady improvement throughout the tournament.

The 1997–98 Women's Basketball Team, coached by Jim Scheible (1992-99), was the first of two consecutive teams to reach the NCAA Tournament. That season, the Soaring Eagles were crowned EAA Co-Champions and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, finishing with a 22–7 record.

Elmira opened the NCAA Tournament with a road win over Oneonta in the First Round and followed with another road victory against Binghamton in the Second Round. The season came to a close in the Sweet 16 against William Paterson in Glassboro, New Jersey.

The Soaring Eagles were led offensively by Rachel Brown '00 (12.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG) and Janna Cunningham '99 (12.1 PPG), while their defense generated 362 steals on the year.

The 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in Stephans Lounge inside Meier Hall on the campus of Elmira College beginning at 3:30 PM.

Additional details will be announced in the coming week.