Elon Volleyball Drops Tight Five-Set Match to Hofstra

ELON, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team rallied from two sets down against Hofstra to even the match and send it to a fifth set but was not able to complete the comeback, falling 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21, 11-15), tonight, Nov. 13, in Alumni Gym.

The Phoenix (6-23, 2-13 CAA) saw 19 total blocks from its defense with the help of seven blocks from both Catherine Head and Kam Terry, while Ally Karle and Michelle Klein each tallied six. Libero Maddie Jaudon marked a new career-high with a team-high 29 digs.

Sydney Busa led the team with 13 kills followed by eight from Kayla Agae, while Sydel Curry recorded her eighth double-double of the season after 39 assists and 18 digs.

“We had an incredible team effort tonight and I’m really proud of the players,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “Our block was outstanding and we played some great defense behind it. We look to close out our season on Sunday with a similar effort as we celebrate a very special senior class.”

Nanishka Perez finished with a match-high 16 kills for the Pride (20-10, 11-4) and also claimed a double-double with 18 digs. National leader in assists Hannah Klemm added 51 on the night, while Corrina Delagadillo posted 38 digs.

How it happened:
An ace by Jaudon and Busa kill helped the Phoenix jump out to a 4-0 edge in the first set, forcing an early HU timeout. Elon maintained its advantage after an Ebony Scott kill to hold an 11-9 lead. The Pride rallied to even the set at 11-all and take a 17-14 advantage. A kill by Head and block by Head and Terry closed the gap to one, 22-21, but Hofstra went on to take the set, 25-22.

With the second set even at seven-all, a block by Terry and Karle and a kill by Terry gave the maroon and gold a four-point lead, 11-7. An Agae and Head block and an ace by Head kept the Phoenix in front by three, 17-14, before the Pride tied the set at 18-all. After an ace by Busa put Elon up, 23-22, Hofstra managed the final three points to win the set, 25-23.

The Phoenix used a kill by Agae and a block by Busa and Head to move out in front in the third set, 17-14. Kills by Head, Busa and Curry extended the Elon advantage to five, 21-16, before kills from Terry and Agae helped give the maroon and gold the win, 25-19, to keep the match alive.

Trailing by two in the fourth set, 6-4, Elon used three straight blocks from Klein and Terry and an Agae ace to score four straight and take an 8-6 lead. With the score even at 13-all, the Pride was able to move in front by three, 16-13, before a kill by Scott and a block by Klein and Curry helped the Phoenix pull even again, 17-all. A kill by Karle sparked a 5-1 run for Elon that was capped by a Terry ace to win the set, 25-21, and send it to a deciding fifth set.

In the fifth and final set, two kills by Agae, one by Busa and blocks by Karle, Busa and Terry gave the maroon and gold a 7-4 advantage. Hofstra managed a 7-1 run to move in front, 11-8. Elon answered with kills by Karle and Head and a block by Curry and Head to pull within one, 12-11, but the Pride closed out the set and the match with a 15-11 final.

Up next:
Elon closes out the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 15, against Northeastern at 2 p.m. in Alumni Gym. The match will mark Senior Day for the team’s three seniors.