Box Score (Match 1)
Box Score (Match 2)

DURHAM, N.C. – The Elon University volleyball team opened the 2010 season on a high note on Friday, as the Phoenix captured a 3-1 (27-29, 25-18, 25-18, 25-12) victory over Charleston Southern University and a 3-1 (25-13, 24-26, 26-24, 26-24) win over the University of Texas at El Paso on the first day of the Hilton RTP/North Carolina Central University Tournament. 

After dropping a hard-fought first set in its first match of the day, the Phoenix (2-0) stormed back in the final three sets to claim the win over the Buccaneers, with sophomore Allison Johnson and senior Lauren Copenhagen leading all players with 18 and 16 kills, respectively. 

Down two points late in the first game, the Phoenix gained momentum, as a CSU attack error knotted the game at 21-all. But the Bucs managed to pull off the two-point victory late in the set.

Elon took control in the final three sets of the match, as the Phoenix downed CSU 25-18 in games two and three before taking a 25-12 decision in the final set, which included a 14-6 run to end the game.

Junior setter Megan McMahon had a stellar match for the Phoenix against CSU, tallying a match-high 48 assists. McMahon finished the day with 99 assists after tallying 51 against UTEP

Against UTEP in its final match of the day, Elon opened the game on a 5-0 run and never looked back, as a balanced attack and several errors by the Miners gave Elon an early 1-0 edge.

After the Miners took the next set, 26-24, the Phoenix claimed the final two games in dramatic fashion, as late blocks down the stretch and service errors by UTEP propelled Elon to victory and a 2-0 start to the season.

Senior Sarah Schermerhorn and juniors Caroline Lemke and Traci Stewart all tallied a team-high 14 kills in the final match of the day, while sophomore Ali Deatsch paved the way with a team-high 16 digs.

The Phoenix out-blocked opponents, 19-16, on the day, while hitting .392 as a team in the first match and .298 in the second.

Elon is back in action tomorrow with its final two games of the tournament. The Phoenix will take on host North Carolina Central at 11 a.m. before wrapping up action versus Gardner-Webb University at 3 p.m.