Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College Soaring Eagles Women’s Volleyball team went undefeated in four matches en route to claiming the 2010 Elmira College Invitational Saturday afternoon in Speidel Gymnasium. The Soaring Eagles were dominating in every match during the two day tournament with no contest reaching a fifth set. With the flawless weekend EC’s overall record now stands at 4-1 on the season.

The Purple and Gold’s quest for the 2010 Elmira College Invitational championship began Friday afternoon with a contest against the Hawks of Hartwick College. Elmira College breezed through the first set of the match with a convincing 25-9 victory. However, Hartwick would bounce back in the second set to test EC, but the Soaring Eagles would prevail 27-25. EC would go on to win the third set 25-19 for the 3-0 win. Second year standout Sasha Zavadska ’13 (Bratislava, SVK -- The British School) sparked the offense with 13 kills in the match and 3 serve aces. Taryn Rumsey ’14 (Mansfield, PA -- Mansfield) would also contribute with 11 kills, while fellow Mansfield native Tesia Kaczynski ’11 (Mansfield, PA -- Mansfield) recorded 31 set assists.

Elmira College’s second match of the night was against the Highlanders of Houghton College who also won their opening contest easily, 3-0. Houghton started out strong taking the first set 25-22, but the Purple and Gold would bounce back by winning the next three consecutive games and the match 3-1. Chelsea Needham ’11 (Middletown, NY -- Middletown), Brittany Raykoske ’12 (Johnstown, NY -- Gloversville), Rumsey, and Zavadska all reached double digits in kills for the match with Zavadska leading the way with 18. Rumsey also contributed 5 serve aces in the win.

EC’s first match of day-two of the Elmira College Invitational was against Utica College. The Purple and Gold got off to a dominating start in the match with a 25-3 victory in the first set. The Soaring Eagles would not let up taking the next two sets easily and sweeping the match 3-0. Raykoske led the way for Elmira with 17 kills and an outstanding .714 attack percentage in the match. Melanie Pershyn ’13 (Lakeview, NY -- Frontier) helped set up the offensive assault with 22 set assists.

The Purple and Gold needed just one more win to clinch the 2010 EC Invitational championship and they would get it against Hilbert College, 3-0. The two teams battled hard in the first set with Elmira prevailing 25-21, but the Soaring Eagles would prove to be the team of the tournament easily winning the final two sets (25-9, 25-18). Raykoske and Zavadska led the way yet again for EC. Raykoske totaled 13 kills, while Zavadska registered 12 in the match.