Elon Volleyball Falls to Terriers, 3-1

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – After defeating Wofford earlier in the season, the Elon volleyball team was not able to knock off the Terriers on the road, falling 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 20-25). The Phoenix is now 16-13 on the season and 7-6 in conference play, while Wofford improves to 12-16 (6-7 SoCon).

Freshman Ally Karle posted a new career-high after leading the Phoenix with 16 kills off 26 attempts and only four errors to hit .462. Sophomore Megan Gravley tallied 11 kills, while sophomore Ana Nicksic recorded a double-double with 29 assists and 11 digs. On defense, Karle posted four blocks, followed by senior Cali Estes with three.

Trailing by one in the first set, 7-6, a kill by Chanelle Smith sparked a 7-1 run to put the Phoenix up by five, 13-8, and force a Terrier timeout. Wofford would climb back and tie the score at 17-all. The Terriers managed to score eight of the last 13 points and claim a 25-22 win.

Off the serve of Nicksic, Elon opened the second set on a 5-0 run with two aces by Nicksic, a kill by Karle and a block by Estes and Karle. The Phoenix increased its advantage to seven, 19-12, after kills by Kayla Agae and Gravley. Elon held on to its advantage as a kill by Karle sealed a 25-20 victory to even the match score at one-all.

Three kills by Gravley at the beginning of the third set helped the maroon and gold take a 6-3 lead. Elon held on to the lead as back-to-back kills by Karle moved the gap to four, 20-16. Wofford managed to tie the set at 21-all and close out the set on a 4-2 run to win, 25-23.

In the fourth set, the Terriers led by as much as six, 21-15, before kills by Karle and C. Smith and a block by Estes and Karle cut the gap to three, 21-18. However, the Terriers were able to hold on to claim a 25-20 final-set victory.

Elon will play next tomorrow, Nov. 9, at Furman in Greenville, S.C., at 5 p.m.