ELON, N.C. – Facing a sweep in the third set, the Elon volleyball team rallied to keep the match alive but was ultimately unable to knock off Towson, falling 3-1 (14-25, 20-25, 25-20, 18-25), today, Oct. 4, in Alumni Gym.
The Phoenix (3-14, 0-4 CAA) saw a double-double from Sydney Busa who had a team-high 12 kills and 14 digs. Ally Karle also had 12 kills and hit .471 one in the match with only two errors. Sydel Curry finished with a match-high 34 assists and fell just shy of the double with nine digs.
On defense, Elon out-blocked the Tigers, 7-6, with the help of four blocks from Catherine Head and another three by Ebony Scott and Karle.
“I really liked our middle attack today,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “Catherine and Ally were both very active and took some aggressive swings and Sydel did a good job of mixing the offense up. We still need to work on some things defensively, but it definitely got better as the match went along.”
The Tigers (16-2, 3-1 CAA) saw a match-high 17 kills from Jocelyn Kuilan and a double-double after 12 kills and 17 digs by Jessica Lewis. Libero Anna Holehouse finished with a match-high 25 digs.
How it happened: With the first set even at four-all after an Elon kill by Karle, the Tigers managed to scored six straight to move ahead 10-4. Towson maintained its advantage and went on to a 25-14 win.
The Phoenix kept the second set close with a 13-all score before the Tigers took a 16-13 edge. Kills by Karle, Megan Gravley and Busa closed the gap to one, 17-16. Towson reached set point, 24-18, but the maroon and gold would not give up as kills by Scott and Busa held the Tigers for a time. However, it was not enough at TU took a 2-0 lead after a 25-20 victory in the set.
With the third set tied at five-all, kills by Curry and Scott and two by Head gave the Phoenix a four-point edge, 10-6. The Tigers pulled within two, 16-14, before kills by Kam Terry, Busa and Scott helped the maroon and gold to four straight to lead by six, 20-14. A block by Scott and Head and a kill by Busa sealed the win for Elon, 25-20, to keep the match alive.
The Tigers held a 12-7 edge in the fourth set before the Phoenix scored five straight with the help of blocks by Terry, Karle and Busa and kills by Busa and Terry to even the score at 12-all. Towson moved back in front by three, 17-14, and was able to maintain its lead and close out the match with a 25-18 final.
Notes: The match marked the 11th time this season Elon has out-blocked its opponent…Towson leads the all-time series over the Phoenix, 4-1…Busa’s double-double was the fifth of the season for the sophomore.
Up next: Elon remains home in Alumni Gym to host College of Charleston on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m.