Elon Volleyball Suffers Setback Against Cougars

ELON, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team started off strong today, Oct. 16, by winning the first set but was not able to hold on, falling to College of Charleston, 3-1 (25-22, 16-25, 23-25, 17-25), in Alumni Gym.

BOX SCORE

Sydney Busa recorded her second straight double-double after leading the Phoenix (15-9, 2-6) with 15 kills and 14 digs. Ebony Scott tallied 14 kills followed by another 10 kills from Kam Terry. Sydel Curry posted her ninth double-double of the season with 45 assists and 14 digs. Maddie Jaudon claimed a team-high 15 digs, while Ally Karle finished with five blocks for the maroon and gold.

The Cougars (13-7, 6-2) saw 14 kills from Kennedy Madison and another 12 kills from Maddie Hills, while Riana Brennan had a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs. McKala Rhodes posted 16 digs, while Jane Feddersen had a match-high nine blocks.

How it happened
With the first set tied at four-all, the Cougars managed to move in front by as much as four, 16-12. A kill by Michelle Klein started the Phoenix comeback to cut the deficit to two, 20-18. Blocks by Scott and Karle and one by Klein and Busa helped the maroon and gold take the lead, 21-20. After CofC evened the score at 21-all, Elon used kills by Scott, Curry and Terry for a 4-1 run to close out the set for a 25-22 win.

The Phoenix remained within one of the Cougars, 8-7, in the second set before Charleston extended its lead to four, 11-7. With CofC leading by six, 16-10, the maroon and gold used two kills by Busa and an Agae ace to close the gap to three, 16-13. Elon was not able to get any closer as CofC went on to win, 25-16.

Kills by Klein and Busa and back-to-back aces by Agae gave Elon a 10-7 lead in the third set to force a Charleston timeout. Back-to-back kills by Terry kept the Phoenix in front by three, 14-11, before the Cougars evened the score, 14-all. The set saw four more ties before CofC claimed set point, 24-20. The maroon and gold would not give up as kills by Busa and Klein led to three straight points to pull within one, 24-23. Charleston held on to take the final point for a close 25-23 victory and 2-1 match lead.

CofC jumped out to a 14-9 advantage in the fourth set before kills by Busa and Scott and two blocks by Karle and Scott helped the Phoenix to a 6-1 run to even the score, 15-all. The Cougars answered with four straight for a 19-15 edge, forcing Elon to call its second timeout. The Phoenix was not able to mount a final comeback as Charleston won the set, 25-17, and the match.

Up Next
The Phoenix goes back out on the road next weekend as the team makes a return trip to visit the Dukes and the Tribe. Elon plays at James Madison on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. before taking on William & Mary at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24.