Box Score

ELON, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team got off to a winning start in newly renovated Alumni Gym on Friday night by defeating The Citadel, 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-18). The Elon defense held The Citadel to a .069 hitting percentage and the Phoenix totaled eight team blocks on the night. With the win, Elon moves to 14-11 on the season and 6-3 in Southern Conference play. The Citadel drops to 5-19 and remains winless in SoCon play.

“It felt great to be in Alumni Gym tonight with such a good crowd. I think our team was a little nervous at the start but we settled down by the end of the first set,” said Elon head volleyball coach Mary Tendler. “Our middles provided a lot of offense for us tonight and our team defense was very active in the back row. It’s nice to get the first win in the newly renovated gym and we look forward to playing a good match against College of Charleston tomorrow.”

Junior Caroline Lemke led the Elon offensive attack with a .381 attack percentage, while senior Sarah Schermerhorn led the team in kills with 12.

Senior Lauren Copenhagen and junior Traci Stewart directed the defensive side of the ball with 16 and 15 digs, respectively. Schermerhorn recorded one solo block and four assisted for a total of five on the night.

The first set started off with a 12-9 Bulldog advantage until a kill by Lemke started the Phoenix on a short run to pull the score to 12-11. With the score still at a one point visitor advantage, a Bulldog error and a kill by Schermerhorn gave Elon its first lead of the night at 16-14. The Citadel tied the match several times, but the Phoenix were able to withstand the Bulldog surge and maintain the lead and earn the first set victory, 26-24.

In the second set, the Phoenix jumped out to a 7-2 lead on the serve of sophomore Ali Deatsch and senior Traci Stewart. Elon would lead by as many as nine until the Bulldogs went on a four-point run to pull the score to 22-16. The Phoenix scored the last three points and won the set, 25-16, with a kill from Lemke to take a 2-0 lead.

The third set began with Elon pulling out to a 5-1 lead once again on the serve of Deatsch and Stewart. The Bulldogs closed the Phoenix lead to just three points at 9-6 before the Phoenix picked up the pace and pulled ahead 14-9. With the score at a 17-12 Elon advantage, a kill by Schermerhorn moved the Phoenix ahead 18-12 and forced the Bulldogs to call a timeout. Elon was able to keep its lead after the brief break and won the set on a kill from Stewart, 25-18, to earn the sweep.

Elon will return to action tomorrow against College of Charleston for its fourth annual Dig Pink match. The match will begin at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym. All fans are encouraged to wear pink.