Elmira Downs Nationally-Ranked Vassar

Hoboken, NJ – The Elmira College Men’s Volleyball team upended No. 11 Vassar College in a thrilling 3-2 match (25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 15-11) Sunday afternoon in the second day of the UVC Crossover in Hoboken. The win improves the Soaring Eagles to 10-5 overall and 3-0 in the United Volleyball Conference. The loss drops the Brewers to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

The Purple and Gold got off to a great start, winning the first two sets in tight fashion, 25-21. EC nearly swept the Brewers in three sets, but Vassar pulled out the third set 25-23, and used that momentum to hit its way to a fourth set victory. Elmira remained poised late as they won the deciding fifth set 15-11 for a huge victory to remain undefeated in conference competition.

Ryan Gelenitis ’14 (Brick, NJ -- Christian Brothers Academy) led the Soaring Eagles with 20 kills, 10 digs and three blocks, hitting .400, while Ladislav Lelkes ’15 (Bratislava, SVK -- Esprit) tallied 12 kills and five blocks. Wyatt Hamilton ’15 (Jupiter, FL -- Suncoast) added 12 kills and a team-high 16 digs, while Michael Vellutato ’14 (Topanga, CA -- Redondo Union) dished out 54 assists, while registering eight digs and a team-high six blocks.

The Elmira College Men’s Volleyball team returns to action Wednesday when it travels to take on No. 6 Nazareth at 7:00 p.m.