ELON, NC -- The Western Carolina Catamounts prevailed 3-2 over the Elon Phoenix in a five-game thriller in which four players achieved double-doubles, both teams notched over 100 digs, and one player reached 1,000 career kills. The Catamounts endured to win 23-30, 30-27, 30-20, 25-30, 15-13.
The first game witnessed three lead changes and nine tie scores, the last one coming at 13-13 before Elon went on an 8-1 run to lead 21-14. The Phoenix won the game 30-23 on a kill from Maria LaBrutto. The second game also proved to be a battle. The last of six tied scores was at 24-24 before the Catamounts pulled ahead behind the serve of Shari Harder. Western Carolina closed the game at 30-27 to even the match at 1-1.
The Catamounts (14-14, 6-8 Southern Conference) took an early lead in the third game at 9-8 and led the rest of the game to win 30-20 on a Sara Komosinski kill. In the fourth game, the Phoenix trailed 8-11 but took the lead at 12-11 on a 4-0 run behind Brooke Pickard's serve and never lost the lead. Western Carolina stayed close, cutting the lead to one at 26-25. But Elon finished the game on another 4-0 run at 30-25.
In the fifth game, Western Carolina jumped to an early lead at 4-1, but the Phoenix battled back to a 5-5 tie. The last tie came at 8-8 before the Catamounts took the lead. Down 11-14 the Phoenix got the serve on an Emily Hayes kill and battle to 13-14 before the Catamounts finished the match on a kill from Komosinski.
Elon (14-16, 7-8) was lead by Hayes with a career-high 30 kills and 11 digs. Hayes notched her 1,000th career kill on her 12th kill of the night. LaBrutto also tallied a double-double for the Phoenix with 12 kills and 19 digs. Mary Kate Spear led the defense with 26 digs and Melissa Melito added 11 while Pickard added 10 along with eight kills. Kate Hart added 15 digs and assisted on 60 of the 68 Elon kills.
The Catamounts were lead by Kellyn Thaut with 17 kills and 14 digs and Komosinski who tallied 20 kills and 11 digs. Western Carolina was led defensively by Ellie Talbot and Michelle Gorton who each notched 21 digs. Stefanie Peters added 18 digs along with 8 kills while Harder also tallied 18 digs along with seven kills and 47 assists.
Elon returns to action Saturday night in a 7:00 pm match with Appalachian State.
--ELON-- Game Box Score
