DAVIDSON, N.C. – A strong night on offense helped the Elon volleyball team to an impressive sweep of Davidson, 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-17), tonight, Oct. 4, in Belk Arena. The Phoenix improves to 10-9 on the season and a 2-2 record in Southern Conference play, while the Wildcats fall to 10-6 (1-2 SoCon).
“We played very well tonight against a very good Davidson team,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “We were clicking on all cylinders both offensively and defensively. We look to continue this solid play next week with three important matches.”
Junior Kris Harris hit .688 in the match after 12 kills off 16 attempts and only one error. Senior Cali Estes recorded a match-high 13 kills and finished with a double-double after 26 assists. Sophomore Megan Gravley also tallied a double-digit kill performance with 11. Sophomore Ana Nicksic posted her fifth double-double of the season with 20 assists and 12 digs.
With the first set tied at 11-all, Elon went on a 6-2 run with the help of three kills by Estes and an ace by Harris to take a 17-13 lead. The Wildcats closed the gap to one, 20-19, before the Phoenix scored the next five straight with the help of kills by Kayla Agae, Estes and Gravley and a block by Harris and Gravley to take the win, 25-19.
A strong offensive attack gave Elon a 7-2 edge early in the second set. Up by three, 11-8, kills by Harris, Agae and Estes extended the maroon and gold lead to six, 14-8. The Phoenix closed out the set on a 4-1 run with the help of kills by Ally Karle, Harris, Danielle Smith and Estes to give Elon a 25-16 victory.
With the third set tied at three-all, a kill by Estes sparked seven straight for the Phoenix, which was capped by a solo block by Karle, to take a 10-3 lead and force an early Wildcat timeout. Two kills by Gravley and one by Harris helped the maroon and gold keep a nine-point edge over Davidson, 18-9. The Wildcats managed to cut its deficit to seven, 23-16, but kills by Harris and Agae gave the Phoenix a 25-17 win and the match sweep.
Elon will play its last of five road games on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C., at 7 p.m.