Elon Phoenix Volleyball Sweeps NC Central

ELON, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team used its best offensive performance of the season thus far to claim its first win in the form of a sweep, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-20), over North Carolina Central today, Sept. 5, on the second day of the Elon Phoenix Classic.

The Phoenix (1-5) hit .315 in the match and recorded six aces, while NCCU (0-5) was held to a .067 output on offense. The Elon defense out-blocked the Eagles 9-2 to tally more blocks than its opponent for the third straight match.

Megan Gravley led all players with 12 kills off 27 attempts and only one error to hit .407 and also tallied two aces, while Ebony Scott notched a new career-high 11 kills off 22 attempts and two errors to hit .409. Sydel Curry notched 32 assists to average an impressive 10.6 assists per set.

The Elon block was led for the second straight night by Ally Karle who posted five total blocks, followed by four each from Catherine Head and Sydney Busa.

The Eagles’ Kelsey Murphy led the team with 10 kills, while libero Tamika Brekke posted a match-high 17 digs.

How it happened: Off the serve of Curry and three Gravley kills, the Phoenix jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first set. Elon maintained its strong advantage as a kill by Head and two by Scott gave the maroon and gold three of the final four points to cruise to a 25-13 win.

The serve of Curry got Elon off to another strong start in the second set with a 6-0 edge. Kills by Scott and Gravley and a Morgan Maner ace capped a 4-1 run to move the Phoenix ahead by 10, 16-6. A block by Head and Curry sealed another 25-13 victory for Elon and a 2-0 match lead.

Elon fell behind, 5-2, in the third set before kills by Scott, Gravley and Busa helped the Phoenix to five straight and a 7-5 advantage. With the maroon and gold leading by one, 12-11, Elon used kills by Busa and Curry to go on a 5-0 run and move ahead by six, 17-11. The Phoenix held on for a 25-20 win to claim the match sweep.

Notes: Elon hit an impressive .464 in the first set after 15 kills off 28 attempts and only two errors…The match only saw the score tied twice and one lead change…Curry’s 32 assists notched a new career high in three sets for the sophomore…The Phoenix has now won 14 straight over NCCU and holds a 20-5 advantage in the all-time series.

Up next: Elon wraps up the Elon Phoenix Classic with the tournament finale tonight, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym against Wake Forest.