RADFORD, Va. – The Elon volleyball team battled in its season opener against Washington State but was not able to claim the victory, falling 3-0 (18-25, 17-25, 24-26) on the first day of the Radford/Virginia Tech Invite. With a match earlier in the day, the Cougars improve to 1-1 on the young season, while the Phoenix is 0-1.
“We’re obviously not happy with a three-set loss but we did a lot of things well,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “Offensively, we were very efficient, especially our two middles. Hopefully we can bring that strong offense tomorrow and improve in some other areas.”
After trailing most of the first two sets, the Phoenix took a strong advantage in the third set and led by as much as four points. The Cougars took set point, 24-22, before the Phoenix evened the score, 24-all. However, WSU was able to advance to a 26-24 win for the 3-0 victory.
Elon’s offense was led by nine kills from Megan Gravley, while Ebony Scott hit .412 on the night with eight kills and Ally Karle hit .500 with seven kills.
The Phoenix claimed the advantage in digs, 44-40, with a team-high 13 by libero Morgan Maner. Both teams tallied five total blocks with two by each Catherine Head, Karle and Scott.
Washington State’s Kyra Hold led all players with 14 kills followed by 12 kills from McKenna Woodford. Kate Sommer tallied 17 digs for the Cougars, while Taylor Mims recorded a match-high three blocks.
How it happened: With the Phoenix trailing by five, 15-10, a kill by Gravley and a block by Head and Sydney Busa pulled Elon to within three, 15-12. The maroon and gold was not able to get any closer as the Cougars went on to a 25-18 first-set win.
Down by three in the second set, 13-10, two kills by Gravley and one by Scott helped Elon to a 3-1 run to cut its deficit to one, 14-13. The Phoenix remained within a point, 16-15, before the Cougars moved ahead and on to a 25-17 final.
Early kills by Scott and Kam Terry and a block by Head and Scott helped the Phoenix to a 7-2 advantage and forced a Cougar timeout. WSU rebounded and grabbed a 20-16 edge before a 6-1 rally by Elon off two kills by Scott and one by each Gravley and Head put the maroon and gold back on top, 22-21. With the set tied at 24-all, the Cougars claimed the final two points for a 26-24 final-set win.
Notes: The Phoenix hit .253 on the night and was only slightly outdone by the Cougars .270 mark…Washington State managed 10 aces in the match, including four from setter Haley MacDonald…A total of 12 Elon players saw action in the match, including newcomers Scott, Terry and Maddie Jaudon…The match marked the first time the Phoenix and Cougars have met on the volleyball court…The Phoenix was able to hold the Cougars for at least a point each time WSU reached set point.
Up next: Elon continues play in the Radford/Virginia Tech Invite with a match at Virginia Tech tomorrow, Aug. 29, at noon in Blacksburg, Va.