Towson Takes Win Over Elon Volleyball Phoenix in Pink Match

ELON, N.C. – After dropping the first two sets, the Elon volleyball team rallied to force a fourth set but was not able to claim a win, falling to Towson, 3-1 (22-25, 18-25, 26-24, 24-26), tonight, Oct. 16, in its annual Pink Match in Alumni Gym.

“Our team had a great offensive night,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “All three pin hitters were very effective. Sydel (Curry) did a tremendous job of distributing the ball and putting the hitters in good positions to score. The players looked confident and played very aggressive throughout the night. We get back into the gym tomorrow for practice and then we look forward to competing against Delaware on Saturday night.”

Ally Karle recorded a season-high 17 kills, while both Sydney Busa and Megan Gravley tallied 12 kills. Sydel Curry finished with a double-double after 39 assists and 13 digs and also added two aces. On defense, Karle led the team block with four total blocks.

After the Tigers claimed the first three points of the first set, the Phoenix evened the score at five-all and used a kill by Gravley and an ace by Busa to take a two-point edge, 7-5. The score saw five more ties before Towson grabbed the lead by two, 22-20, and held on for a 25-22 win.

In the second set, Towson took an early 10-5 advantage, forcing an Elon timeout. The Tigers led by eight, 18-10, before kills by Catherine Head, Karle, Curry and a block by Karle and Kris Harris gave the Phoenix four straight points to close the gap to four. However, Elon was not able to overcome Towson’s advantage as the Tigers moved ahead, 2-1, after a 25-18 win.

The Phoenix came out of the break on fire in the third set with two kills by Karle and an ace by Curry to help the maroon and gold to a 4-0 lead. The Tigers evened the set, six-all, but Elon quickly gained a two-point advantage, 8-6, with the help of a kill by Gravley. The Phoenix maintained its lead and widened the gap to three, 16-13, after another ace by Curry. Towson managed to tie the score again and then take its first lead of the set, 23-22. With the set even at 24-all, a kill by Busa and an error by the Tigers gave Elon the final two points for a 26-24 victory.

Elon carried its momentum into the fourth set and moved out to a 15-6 lead with the help of five kills by Busa. Towson rallied with five straight to pull within four, 15-11, but the Phoenix kept its edge by no less than two. The Tigers fought and eventually evened the score, 19-all, but Elon never trailed until Towson claimed the last two points to change the lead for the first time in the set and win, 26-24, to take the 3-1 match victory.

The Phoenix continues its stretch of three matches in four days on Saturday, Oct. 18, when it hosts Delaware in Alumni Gym at 7 p.m.