Elmira Claims ECAC Volleyball 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.
Elmira’s Raykoske was named Most Outstanding Player of the ECAC Metro-Upstate Tournament.