GREENVILLE, S.C. – The eighth-seeded Elon volleyball team was not able to upset top-seeded Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference volleyball tournament, dropping the match 3-0 (18-25, 13-25, 16-25), today, Nov. 22, in Timmons Arena on the campus of Furman.
Cali Estes and Chanelle Smith led the Phoenix with seven kills each, while Ana Nicksic finished with 13 assists. On defense, Maggie Reichard tallied 11 digs.
Two kills by Estes and one by C. Smith helped Elon to a 3-1 lead early in the first set before GSU responded with a 6-1 run to take a 7-4 advantage. Kills by Ally Karle and Danielle Smith and an ace by Reichard kept the Phoenix within one, 9-8. With the maroon and gold trailing by just two, 17-15, the Eagles managed to score the next six points for a 23-15 edge and go on to win, 25-18.
In the second set, two kills by Estes kept the Phoenix within three of GSU, 9-6. Down by six, 13-7, two kills by Kayla Agae and an ace by Nicksic cut the deficit to four, 14-10. An ace by Estes made it a 19-13 score in favor of Elon before the Eagles scored the final six points for a 25-13 win and a 2-0 lead.
After GSU took a 4-0 lead, Elon responded with kills by C. Smith and Megan Gravley to pull within two, 4-2. A kill by Agae helped the maroon and gold stay within three, 11-8, before the Eagles grabbed a seven-point advantage, 18-11. With GSU leading, 22-13, two kills by C. Smith and a block by Karle and Agae closed the gap to seven. 23-16. However, the Eagles would take the next two points and the set, 25-16, to sweep the match.
The Phoenix finishes the season with a 16-17 record, while the Eagles advance to the tournament semifinals with a 26-5 overall record.