ATHENS, Ga. – The Elon University volleyball team spent the weekend at the University of Georgia competing in the Georgia Outback Invitational. The squad finished 0-3 after falling to Georgia, Virginia Tech and Louisiana-Monroe.
The Phoenix opened the tournament with Georgia on Friday night. Elon downed the Bulldogs in the first game 30-28 before falling in the next three games 25-30, 20-30, 15-30. Emily Hayes led the offense with 14 kills while Emily Lucci added 12 kills and Sarah Farley contributed 10. Kate Hart notched 44 assists and Mary Kate Spear led the defense with 12 digs while Juliena Gigon added eight.
Alexandra Oquendo led the Bulldogs with 20 kills and Julia Petruschke added 14 while also leading the defense with 10 digs. Margot Wallace notched 46 assists and nine digs for Georgia.
In the second match of the tournament, Elon fell to the Virginia Tech Hokies 17-30, 24-30, 20-30. Gigon tallied 11 kills for the Phoenix while Hart notched 14 assists and Natalie Moore added 10 assists. Spear recorded 13 digs and Hart and Gigon each added seven.
The Hokies were led by Katie Esbrook with 13 kills and Allie Kupec with 10 kills. Amanda Cloyd recorded 14 digs for the Hokies while Annie Spicer added 12 and Emily Smith tallied 11. Melissa Markowski tallied 35 assists for Virginia Tech.
In the final match of the tournament, the Phoenix fell in five games to Louisiana-Monroe, 28-30, 30-25, 30-28, 27-30, 12-15. Lucci led the Elon offensive attack with 16 kills while Hayes added 15, Brooke Pickard added 14 and Gigon contributed 12. Hart tallied 61 assists along with three service aces. Pickard also recorded a career-high four service aces. Spear again led the defense with 27 digs.
Louisiana-Monroe was led by Lindsey Ehlert with 23 kills and Megan Gloor added 16 while Ashley Williams notched 14. Darci Mika tallied 29 assists and Tausha McFarland added 21. Ehlert led the defense with 14 digs while Gloor added 11 and Jennifer Mayo added 12.
For her performance, Lucci was named to the All-Tournament Team. She finished the weekend with 34 kills and only 12 errors on 76 attacks. She also tallied six total blocks.
Elon returns to action on Tuesday, September 14 in a match at Duke beginning at 7:00 p.m.
–ELON– Elon vs. Georgia Box Score
Elon vs. Virginia Tech Box Score
Elon vs. Louisiana-Monroe Box Score
