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Elmira Claims ECAC Tournament Title in Five Set Thriller
Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Women’s Volleyball
team captured the 2011 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference crown
with a thrilling 3-2 (24-26, 25-19, 27-25, 20-25, 15-13) win
against NYU Saturday evening in Elmira. The win culminates an
inspiring season for the Soaring Eagles at 28-8 overall, while the
gritty Violets end their season at 22-17.
In order to make it to the championship match the number one
seeded Soaring Eagles had to get by the Ramapo Roadrunners in the
semifinal match, which they did in four sets, 3-1 (19-25, 25-16,
25-11, 25-21). EC started off the match playing well, but made some
unforced errors late in the set, giving Ramapo the first set 25-19.
In the second set Elmira got off to a great 8-1 start and cruised
to a 25-16 win. The Purple and Gold carried their momentum from the
second into the third, leading 12-5 early. EC extended that lead to
21-10 as they soared to the all-important third set win. The two
teams played to an even 10-10 start in the fourth set. EC used a
9-5 run to take a 19-15 lead, but the Roadrunners proved tough
battling back to within two at 22-20. However, the Soaring Eagles
scored three of the next four points to close out the match
25-21.
In match two of the day play started off back-and-forth with
stellar offensive execution from both sides. Elmira used great
passing and accurate kills to take a late 21-17 lead in the opening
set. NYU responded by going on a 7-2 run to take the lead at 24-23.
The Soaring Eagles got a kill from Brittany Raykoske ’12
(Johnstown, NY -- Gloversville) to tie it once again, but two
points from the Violets gave them the first set 26-24.
The second set saw the Violets get off to a quick 8-4 start, but a
gritty Soaring Eagle squad used an 14-7 spurt to take an 18-15
lead. EC closed on a 7-4 streak culminating with a Raykoske kill to
even the match at 1-1.
No one led by more than three points in the third set as the two
teams showed just how evenly matched they were. With the match tied
at 18, NYU scored back-to-back points to take a two point lead. The
Purple and Gold answered with two points in a row from Sasha
Zavadska ’13 (Bratislava, SVK – The British School) and
Amanda Matson ’13 (Corning, NY -- Corning West) to even in
once again at 20 apiece. After a timeout NYU’s Kolby Warren
pounded down a kill, followed by assisted blocks from Alex Mao and
Allie Williams. The Soaring Eagles showed their resiliency
responding with four straight points to bring it to set point at
24-22 Elmira. The Violets proved their mental toughness answering
back with three straight points to take the 25-24 advantage. In a
rollercoaster affair The Purple and Gold answered back with three
consecutive points to claim the 27-25 third set victory.
NYU came out strong in the must-win fourth set, getting off to a
9-1 start. After a 17-13 surge Elmira drew within striking distance
at 22-18. After both teams exchanged two points apiece the Violets
came within game point at 24-20, and an unforced error ended the
fourth set with NYU prevailing 25-20. It was fitting that with two
even teams the ECAC Metro-Upstate Women’s Volleyball
Championship would be decided in a fifth set.
Once again the Violets got out to a quick start, leading 3-0 in
the first to 15, win by two fifth set. EC battled back winning six
of the next eight points to take the lead at 6-5. A kill by Molly
Short ’13 (Sterling, CO -- Sterling), and a block assist by
Taryn Rumsey ’14 (Mansfield, PA -- Mansfield) and Matson
increased the Purple and Gold lead to 8-6 at the midway point of
the decisive fifth set. After a 3-1 run in favor of NYU the score
was tied at nine. Coming down the stretch EC was extremely accurate
with its kill attempts as it took a 13-11 advantage. Once again the
Violets answered with two points to tie it at 13. A Jessica Hull
’15 (Ypsilanti, MI – Milan) kill brought the set to
match point at 14-13 EC. A Raykoske and Short combined block
rounded out an impressive match for both teams as Elmira grounded
out the five-set victory 15-13, earning the 2011 ECAC Metro-Upstate
Championship.
