Elon Volleyball Falls to JMU, 3-1

ELON, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team rallied from two sets down to keep the match alive but was not able to overcome James Madison, falling 3-1 (16-25, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25), tonight, Sept. 23, in Alumni Gym in its Colonial Athletic Association opener.

The Phoenix (13-4, 0-1 CAA) saw a team-high 13 kills from Ebony Scott followed by 12 kills from Sydney Busa. Sydel Curry tallied a match-high 34 assists, while Maddie Jaudon finished with 11 digs.

The Dukes (10-5, 2-0 CAA) were led by Janey Goodman with a match-high 18 kills and another 15 kills from Bryn Recker, while Tilbe Yaglioglu recorded a team-high 30 assists. On defense, Austin Taylor posted a match-high 18 digs and saw three blocks from Goodman and Taylor Gail.

How it Happened
JMU moved out to a 9-3 lead in the first set before kills by Busa and Kam Terry closed the gap to five, 10-5. The Dukes were able to extend its advantage to 10, 17-7. With the set in favor of JMU, 22-11, the Phoenix used a 4-1 run off a block by Elizabeth Coil and Scott and a Kayla Agae kill to make it 23-15. The Dukes would go on to win the set, 25-16.

In the second set, the maroon and gold trailed by three, 10-7, before kills by Busa and Michelle Klein helped even the score at 11-all. The Dukes would grab as much as a three-point edge four times but the Phoenix would not give up, pulling within one seven times as the score reached a 23-22 JMU lead. Elon kept Madison at set point once but the Dukes would hold on to win, 25-23.

With the Phoenix leading by two in the third set, 8-6, kills by Terry and Busa and a Curry ace led to three straight for a five-point advantage, 11-6. JMU rallied to even the score at 15-all as the score saw five more ties to reach 20-all. Back-to-back kills by Klein helped Elon to a 23-20 edge as kills by Scott and Busa closed out the set for the maroon and gold, 25-22, to keep the match alive.

JMU led the fourth set early by one, 9-8, before extending its advantage to four, 12-8. The Phoenix closed the gap to two, 15-13, after two kills by Busa. The Dukes moved in front by as much as five, taking a 23-18 lead. Elon held Madison off with kills by Scott and Klein to pull within two, 24-22, but JMU was able to claim a 25-22 win and the match.

Up Next
Elon returns to Alumni Gym on Sunday, Sept. 25, to host William & Mary in a 2 p.m. match.