ELON, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team took the reigning Colonial Athletic Association champions UNCW to five sets but was not able to take the win, falling 3-2 (25-20, 19-25, 24-26, 26-24, 13-15), tonight, Oct. 15, in Alumni Gym.
The Phoenix (15-8, 2-5) saw two double-doubles from both Sydney Busa and Sydel Curry. Busa posted a team-high 19 kills and 15 digs, while Curry tallied a match-high 53 assists (10.6/set) and 16 digs. Kam Terry posted 17 kills followed by 10 kills from Ebony Scott. Maddie Jaudon recorded a team-high 20 digs with another 15 digs from Kayla Agae. Michelle Klein led the defense at the net with six total blocks along with another four from Ally Karle.
Nicole Lott led the Seahawks (14-6, 4-4) with 29 kills followed by 10 kills from Kristen Powell. Alyssa Desjardins tallied 27 assists, while Sydney Alvis posted a match-high 24 digs.
How it happened
In the first set, the Seahawks claimed the first three points but Elon responded to even the score at 12-all after an ace by Terry. Another Phoenix ace, this one by Jaudon, gave the maroon and gold its first lead, 14-13. Still ahead by one, 17-16, kills by Agae, Busa and Karle made it a four-point advantage, 20-16. A block by Klein and Scott closed out the set for a 25-20 victory to give Elon the early lead.
UNCW jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set before the Phoenix used a 10-5 run that was capped by a Terry kill to move in front, 11-9. The Seahawks responded to take a three-point edge, 15-12. UNCW extended its advantage to five, 20-15, and held on to win the set, 25-19, and even the match.
Elon used a block by Curry and Karle to help gain a 4-1 lead in the third set. UNCW evened the score at six-all and saw six more ties as it reached 12-all. The Seahawks took the advantage and moved in front by four, 20-16, before the Phoenix tied it up again, 21-all. With the set still even, 24-all, UNCW claimed the final two points to take a 26-24 win.
Three kills by Busa and a block by Klein and Busa put the maroon and gold on top 4-0 to start the fourth set. UNCW responded to make it seven-all and managed to move in front by as much as three, 19-16. The Phoenix chipped away at the Seahawk advantage, using an Agae ace to tie the score, 23-all. UNCW would reach set point, 24-23, before kills by Curry, Terry and Busa gave Elon the final three points to win, 26-24, and send the match to a deciding fifth set.
The maroon and gold found itself down early in the fifth and final set, 4-1, before using a 6-3 run off kills by Busa and Klein, a block by Terry and Klein and a Klein ace to make it seven-all. UNCW answered to move in front, 11-9, and force Elon to call its second timeout. Kills by Scott and Terry and a solo block by Klein brought the Phoenix back, 13-all, as UNCW called a timeout. Out of the break, the Seahawks claimed the last two points to take a tight 15-13 final.
Up Next
Elon continues play in Alumni Gym tomorrow, Oct. 16, when the Phoenix hosts College of Charleston at 2 p.m.