BOONE, NC -- On the strength of 15 blocks and four players with double-digit kills, Appalachian State volleyball defeated Southern Conference newcomer Elon 28-30, 30-18, 30-28, 30-28 Saturday evening at the Holmes Center. The meeting was the first-ever between Appalachian and Elon on the volleyball court.

After committing five service errors in the game one setback, Appalachian (5-11, 3-1 Southern Conference) came out firing on all cylinders in game two. The Mountaineers held Elon to just nine kills while outhitting the Phoenix .308 to .000 on the game to regain the momentum.

Appalachian, which has been plagued by two-point losses the entire season, was then able to find a way to win back-to-back two-point games to put the match away.

Elon (8-11, 2-3) was led offensively by Emily Hayes with 13 kills. Maria LaBrutto and Sarah Farley each added nine. Mary Kate Spear led the defense with 19 digs and Juliena Gigon recorded 14.

Leading the way for ASU was sophomore Kali Rumberger, who recorded the only-double-double of the match with 12 kills and a career-high 24 digs. Senior Katherine Dean led the four Mountaineers with double-digits in the kill column with 16. Fellow senior Jackie Jennings had 12 kills while junior Samantha Giudici chipped in with 10.

Elon returns home on Friday, Oct. 10 for a 7:00 p.m. match against Southern Conference opponent Chattanooga and Saturday, Oct. 11 to host East Tennessee State at 2:00 p.m.

-- ELON -- Game Box Score