ELON, N.C. – Taking a break from Colonial Athletic Association play, the Elon volleyball team claimed a 3-0 (25-8, 25-20, 25-13) victory over visiting North Carolina A&T tonight, Oct. 20, in Alumni Gym in its annual Pink Match.
Sydney Busa tallied one of two double-doubles for the Phoenix (5-17) with a match-high 11 kills and 12 digs. Catherine Head finished with 10 kills off 19 attempts and only one error to hit .474 in the match. Sydel Curry tallied a new three-set career high with 35 assists, while also recording a double-double with 12 digs.
On defense, Head and Busa each posted a match-high four blocks to help the Phoenix to five total blocks.
“We started the match off really strong against A&T and they struggled,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “We knew they would bounce back in the second set, which to their credit they did. We were able to sustain A&T’s push and finished the match strong. This will give us good momentum moving back into CAA play this weekend.”
The Aggies (4-11) saw a team-high seven kills from Samara Brown, while Ashley Johnston tallied a match-high 19 digs.
How it happened: Kills and blocks by Head and Busa helped the Phoenix to a 5-1 lead to start the first set. Off the serve of Head, Elon scored five straight to extend its advantage to nine, 12-3. With the maroon and gold in front by nine, 19-8, two kills by Kam Terry, a Maddie Jaudon ace and a kill by Head closed out the set in favor of the Phoenix, 25-8.
The Aggies rebounded to take a 7-1 advantage to begin the second set. Elon answered with a 9-1 run to take a two-point edge, 10-8. With the Phoenix trailing by one, 15-14, three straight kills by Head and an ace by Jaudon gave the maroon and gold a three-point edge, 18-15. A kill by Ally Karle closed out the set to give Elon a 25-20 win and a 2-0 match lead.
Kills by Busa and Karle, a block by Busa and Head and a Kayla Agae ace put the Phoenix out to a 10-5 lead in the third set. Still leading by five, 15-10, a kill by Karle sparked a 7-2 run for the maroon and gold to move the advantage to 10, 22-12. Another block by Busa and Head and a kill by Busa tallied the final two points of the set to finish out the 25-13 victory and the match sweep.
Notes: Elon improves to 28-9 all-time against A&T and has won the last six straight 3-0…The Phoenix finished with a 5-3 advantage in blocks to out-blocked its opponent for the 15th time this season…The double-doubles were the fifth and sixth of the season for Curry and Busa, respectively.
Up next: Elon travels to face Towson in its next match on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. in Towson, Md.