Towson Tops Elon Volleyball In Season Finale

TOWSON, Md. – The Elon volleyball team evened the match after two sets at Towson tonight, Nov. 15, but was not able to pull out the win as the Tigers won, 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 19-25, 19-25), in SECU Arena. The match marked the season finale for the Phoenix as Elon finishes the year 6-26 (1-15 CAA), while Towson improves to 27-4 on the year (13-3 CAA).

“This group has really been amazing,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “They have stuck together as a team throughout the entire season. I am very proud of them and have thoroughly enjoyed coaching them. The team will certainly miss the leadership and contributions of these seniors – Dani (Smith), Chanelle (Smith) and Kris (Harris). But we have a lot to look forward to in 2015.”

Rookie Sydney Busa tallied 13 kills off 25 attempts with only three errors to hit .400. Kris Harris posted nine kills and a match-high four blocks to help the Phoenix out block the Tigers, 9-4. Sydel Curry tallied her third double-double of the season with 12 assists and a team-high 14 digs, while Ana Nicksic finished with a match-high 24 assists.

With the Tigers leading 3-1 in the first set, Elon went on a 5-0 run with two kills by both Busa and Harris and a block by Harris and Chanelle Smith to claim the advantage, 6-3. Towson regained the edge before kills by C. Smith and Megan Gravley and an ace by C. Smith kept the set even, 10-all. The Tigers went ahead by four, 15-11, and maintained its advantage through the end of the set with a 25-18 win.

Back-to-back kills by Busa started the second set off strong for the Phoenix. A block, kill and ace by Harris and kills by Gravley and Busa helped the maroon and gold extend its lead to six, 12-6. The Tigers pulled within three, 14-11, but two kills by C. Smith and one by Busa kept Elon up by four, 18-14. With the Phoenix edge at three, 22-19, Towson managed to even the set at 22-all. Elon responded and closed out the set with three straight points, including an ace by Morgan Maner and a block by Catherine Head and Ally Karle, to take a 25-22 victory and even the match.

With the third set tied at six-all, the Tigers managed to move ahead, 11-8. Elon then used back-to-back kills by Harris to close the gap to one, 11-10. Kills by Karle would keep the Phoenix within four, 18-14, before Towson managed a 5-0 run to move its advantage to nine, 23-14. Kills and a block by Gravley and Harris pull within to five, 24-19, for the maroon and gold but Elon was not able to overcome the deficit as Towson won, 25-19.

A block by Harris and Busa and a kill by Kayla Agae helped put Elon up 3-0 to start the fourth set. Towson evened the set and pulled ahead, 10-6, forcing a Phoenix timeout. The Tigers managed to extend its lead by eight, 16-8, before a block by Gravley and Karle and a kill by Agae closed the gap to four, 18-14, for the maroon and gold. Towson was able to maintain its lead and take the set win, 25-19, and the match.