ELON, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team recorded its third straight match sweep with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-21) win over The Citadel tonight, Oct. 11, in Alumni Gym. The Phoenix improves to 12-9 on the season and 3-2 in the Southern Conference, while the Bulldogs fall to 4-16 (0-4 SoCon).
Freshman Kayla Agae led all players with 10 kills, while freshman Ally Karle, senior Cali Estes, sophomore Megan Gravley and junior Danielle Smith all recorded eight kills. Estes and sophomore Ana Nicksic combined for 40 assists as Estes tallied 21 and Nicksic finished with 19. On defense both senior Maggie Reichard and freshman Morgan Maner each recorded 11 digs.
With the first set tied at four-all, kills by Gravley, Karle and two by Agae helped Elon to four straight to take an 8-4 lead. The Phoenix extended its advantage to six, 14-8, after kills by Estes and Agae and a block by Estes and Catherine Head. The maroon and gold would maintain its edge and win the set, 25-19.
The Bulldogs opened the second set on a 3-0 run before Elon pulled even at four. With the set still tied at seven-all, a kill by Gravley sparked a 6-0 run to go up 13-7. The Phoenix extended its lead to eight, 18-10, after a kill by Estes and an ace by Chanelle Smith. The Citadel managed to close the gap to four, 20-16, but back-to-back kills by D. Smith put Elon back to a six-point edge before a kill by Head closed out the set by a final of 25-20.
Elon held a slight edge, 10-8, early in the third before a kill by Karle started a 6-2 run, which extended the maroon and gold advantage to six, 16-10. Back-to-back aces by Maner kept the Phoenix up by six, 23-17, forcing The Citadel to call its final timeout. The Bulldogs managed the next two points to pull within four, 23-19, but Elon’s advantage was strong enough to give the maroon and gold a 25-21 win.
Elon will play again tomorrow, Oct. 12, at 4 p.m. in Alumni Gym against Georgia Southern.