Governors Halt Elon Phoenix Volleyball Winning Streak

CHARLESTON, S.C. – After dropping the first set, the Elon volleyball team rallied to win the second but was not able to hold off Austin Peay, falling 3-1 (16-25, 25-22, 17-25, 17-25), today, Sept. 17, in the Bulldog Invitational on the campus of The Citadel in McAlister Field House. The loss snapped a nine-match winning streak for the Phoenix that dated back to Sept. 3.

BOX SCORE

The Phoenix (12-3) saw a near double-double from Sydney Busa after a team-high 14 kills and nine digs. Michelle Klein tallied seven kills and five total blocks, while Sydel Curry finished with 24 assists. Elizabeth Coil led all players with six blocks as Morgan Maner recorded a team-high 10 digs.

The Governors (8-6) were led by 18 kills from Ashley Slay and another 17 from Cecily Gable. Both Kaitlyn Teeter and Kristen Stucker posted double-doubles with 13 kills and 14 digs and 52 assists and 14 digs, respectively.

How it Happened
With the Phoenix trailing by three, 10-7, a block by Curry and Coil and another block by Coil and Terry helped Elon pull even, 10-all. AP was able to mount a 9-2 run for a 19-12 advantage, forcing the Phoenix to call its second timeout. Kills by Scott and Busa cut the deficit to six, 20-14, but the Governors would hold on to win, 25-16.

After kills by Coil and Busa evened the second set at five-all, two kills by Busa helped keep the Phoenix within one, 10-9. AP moved ahead by three, 15-12, before a Thomas kill tied the score, 17-all, and a kill by Klein and block by Klein and Terry gave Elon its first lead, 19-17. Kills by Klein, Terry and Scott helped the maroon and gold reach set point, 24-19, before a Busa kill finished the set, 25-22, for the Phoenix.

A block by Busa and Klein and two kills by Busa helped give Elon a 9-2 lead in the third set, forcing an early Peay timeout. The Governors would even the score, 11-all, and eventually claim a 21-15 advantage. A Busa kill would stop the AP run but the Phoenix was not able to make the comeback as the Govs took the set 25-17.

With AP leading by three, 7-4, kills and a block by Klein and Terry pulled the Phoenix even, seven-all, as kills by Busa and Scott helped keep the score tied, 10-all. The Govs used a 5-2 run to take a 15-12 advantage before a Coil kill helped keep the Phoenix within two. However, that was as close as the maroon and gold would get as AP claimed the set, 25-17, and the match.

Up Next
Elon closes out its play in the Bulldog Invitational later this afternoon with a 2:30 p.m. match against Charleston Southern in McAlister Field House.