Blue Hens Take Win Over Elon Volleyball Phoenix

NEWARK, Del. – The Elon volleyball team came out strong at Delaware tonight, Nov. 14, but eventually fell to the Blue Hens, 3-0 (21-25, 25-27, 14-25), in the Bob Carpenter Center.

“Our team came out with a lot of energy tonight against Delaware,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “Those first two sets could have easily gone either way. Credit goes to the Blue Hens for making plays at the end.”

Megan Gravley finished with a match-high 11 kills, while Danielle Smith tallied seven kills. On defense, Chanelle Smith recorded 10 digs and Catherine Head led the Phoenix with four blocks.

Two kills by C. Smith helped the Phoenix move ahead of the Blue Hens, 18-14, in the first set after the score was even at 14-all. Kills by Sydney Busa and Gravley kept the Phoenix in the lead, 21-18, before UD pulled even, 21-all. The Blue Hens used the momentum to close out the set on a 7-0 run to take a 25-21 win.

With the second set tied at 14-all after a kill by D. Smith, the Phoenix used kills by Gravley and Busa and a block by Head and Busa to take the lead, 17-15. The Blue Hens regained the advantage, 18-17, before a block by D. Smith and Head and a kill by D. Smith put Elon back ahead, 23-22. Another kill by D. Smith helped the maroon and gold reach set point, 25-24, but Delaware managed the final two points to win, 27-25.

The third set was even at five-all to start but UD was able to go on a 10-0 run to take a 15-5 lead. The Phoenix rallied with four straight off kills by Karle and Busa and back-to-back aces by C. Smith to pull within six, 15-9. However the Delaware lead was too strong as the Blue Hens moved on to take a 25-14 victory.

Elon closes out the regular season tomorrow, Nov. 15, at Towson in a 7 p.m. match in Towson, Md.