Box Score

Greensboro, N.C. – The last time the Elon University volleyball team completed a season sweep of the UNC Greensboro Spartans was 2005. But three hard-fought sets gave the Phoenix a match sweep, 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-21), on the road tonight and on the season. With the win, Elon improves to 17-13 on the season and to 8-5 in Southern Conference play. UNCG now drops to 19-9 on the year and 7-6 in SoCon play.

“We haven’t had a lot of luck in Fleming Gym lately and it was great to get the win tonight,” said Elon head volleyball coach Mary Tendler. “I thought our serving and passing was the difference in the match. Our passers have been really consistent lately and that’s helped our offense out. We continue to have a balanced offensive attack, which was led by Caroline (Lemke) tonight. It was very fitting to see her get the last kill of the night to seal the victory. We look to continue the momentum going into Wofford tomorrow night. If we can match our efforts from tonight, it’ll be a good weekend.”

Lemke, a junior, led the Phoenix with 13 kills for a .385 attack percentage. Seniors Sarah Schermerhorn and Lauren Copenhagen contributed nicely with nine and seven kills, respectively. Sophomore Allison Johnson also added to the attack with eight kills of her own. The team recorded four service aces on the night and kept the Spartans from earning any of their own.

The Phoenix defensive attack was spread evenly among junior Megan McMahon, sophomore Ali Deatsch and Copenhagen as the trio recorded 34 digs between them.

Elon took an early 7-3 advantage in the opening set, but the Spartans were able to tie it up at 11-all. UNCG then took a two-point advantage at 14-12 before the Phoenix answered with a five-point run that gave Elon back the lead by three at 17-14. With the set at 20-all, the score moved between a one-point Elon advantage and a tie. After a kill from Schermerhorn made it a 23-22 Phoenix advantage, Elon took the last two points and the first set win, 25-22.

In the second set, the teams kept it very even with 11 ties and seven lead changes before the Phoenix grabbed a slight 13-12 edge. Kills from Schermerhorn and Copenhagen helped Elon finish off a 4-1 run to go up 17-13. However, the Spartans fought back with a four-point run to tie it up at 17-all. The Phoenix once again jumped ahead of UNCG 19-17 off a service ace from Copenhagen. Elon enjoyed at least a two-point cushion until the Spartans cut it to one with the score at 24-23. Off UNCG’s serve, a set from Stewart led to a Lemke kill that gave the Phoenix a sideout for the 25-23 set win and the 2-0 match lead.

Elon was able to carry the momentum it had built during the first two sets after the break and raced out to a 9-4 lead early in the third set. After a four-point Spartan rally narrowed Elon’s advantage to one point at 9-8, the Phoenix recorded four of the next five points to take a 12-9 lead. With the score at 18-15 in favor of Elon, McMahon recorded a kill to make it a four-point lead for the Phoenix and force the Spartans to call a timeout. After the score moved to a 22-16 Elon lead, UNCG refused to be swept easily and went on a 3-1 run to pull to within three at 22-19. However, the Phoenix attack proved too much for the Spartans as Elon scored three of the last five points to take the final set, 25-21, and earn the sweep.

Elon will return to action tomorrow, Nov. 5, at Wofford for a 7 p.m. match-up.