Estes Posts Third Straight Triple-Double; Elon Women’s Volleyball Falls to ASU

ELON, N.C. – Cali Estes continued her impressive play, posting her third straight triple-double, but it was not enough as the Elon volleyball team (15-12, 6-5) fell to Appalachian State (15-10, 6-5), 3-0 (20-25, 23-25, 12-25), tonight, Nov. 1, in Alumni Gym.

“Cali (Estes) and Megan (Gravley) played great, it just wasn’t enough to beat the Mountaineers tonight,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “For us to win matches we need more players stepping in and making plays. We will get back at it tomorrow against a very good Western Carolina team.”

Estes recorded 10 kills, 13 assists and 12 digs to mark her fourth triple-double of the season. Megan Gravley led the Phoenix with 11 kills. On defense, Ally Karle finished with three blocks, while Estes tallied two.

With the first set tied at six-all, the Mountaineers managed the next four points to take a 10-6 lead and force Elon to call its first timeout. The Phoenix used a kill from Kayla Agae and an ace by Ana Nicksic to pull within two, 11-9, but ASU was able to score six of the next nine points to extend its advantage to five, 17-12. An ace by Estes put the maroon and gold back within three, 23-20, but App held on to win, 25-20.

The second set saw five ties by the time the score reached 10-all. From there, the Mountaineers were able to force some Phoenix errors to go on a 6-2 run and take a 16-12 lead. Elon began to chip away at the ASU lead eventually pulled within one, 22-21, with the help of a block by Estes and Catherine Head. The maroon and gold then tied the set at 23-all after kills by Gravley and Danielle Smith. However, the Mountaineers scored the next two points to take a 25-23 victory.

Kills by D. Smith, Estes and Gravley helped Elon keep even with ASU in the third set, four-all. The Mountaineers would manage to gain a strong advantage and go on to win the set, 25-12, and the match.

Elon will remain in Alumni Gym as it takes on Western Carolina tomorrow, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.