Elon Volleyball Drops Heartbreaking Fourth Set; Falls to Delaware

ELON, N.C. – With two set-point opportunities in the fourth set, the Elon volleyball team was not able to claim the win to send it into five sets, falling 3-1 (15-25, 25-23, 22-25, 27-29) to Delaware tonight, Oct. 10, in Alumni Gym.

The Phoenix (3-16, 0-6 CAA) saw a team-high eight kills from Sydney Busa and Ebony Scott, while Catherine Head tallied seven kills to hit .400 in the match. Sydel Curry recorded 40 assists and fell just short of a double-double with nine digs.

On defense, Maddie Jaudon led Elon with 19 digs followed by 15 from both Busa and Kayla Agae. The maroon and gold out-blocked Delaware, 10-8, with the help of five blocks from Ally Karle and four from both Megan Gravley and Head.

The Blue Hens (9-9, 1-3 CAA) saw 14 kills from Chandler Bryant and a double-double from Autumn Jenkins with 12 kills and 17 digs. Ariel Shonk finished with 25 digs to lead all players.

How it happened: With the first set tied at 11-all, the Blue Hens used an 11-2 run to take a nine-point advantage, 22-13. Kills by Karle and Agae got the Phoenix back on the board but UD would move on to a 25-15 final.

The second set saw 14 ties by the time the score reached 20-all. Delaware moved ahead 22-20 before a kill by Scott helped even the set once again at 22-all. A kill by Scott and block by Busa and Head gave the Phoenix set point, 24-23, as a Blue Hens error gave Elon the win, 25-23, to tie the match.

Elon moved out to a strong 5-0 lead to start the third set before the Blue Hens pulled even at 10-all. With the score still tied, 21-all, UD claimed four of the final five points to take a 25-21 win.

With Delaware leading by four in the fourth set, 16-12, kills by Scott and Agae and a block by Gravley and Head helped the Phoenix even the set at 20-all. Elon would reach set point after an ace by Curry and kills from Scott and Terry, 24-23, but UD answered to make it 24-all. With the score still even, 27-all, the Blue Hens claimed the last two points to take a 29-27 victory and take the match.

Up next: Elon closes out its five-match home stand tomorrow, Oct. 11, against UNCW at 2 p.m. in Alumni Gym.