Box Score

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Elon University volleyball team dropped its first match of the 2010 season Friday night, as the Phoenix fell,  3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12), in a five-set heartbreaker to the Cal State University Northridge Matadors.

Down by as many as eight in the fifth set, the Phoenix (5-1) clawed back with a five-point rally to make it a three-point game and force a Matador timeout.  But after a kill by junior Megan McMahon made it a two-point game at 14-12, the Matadors managed to take the set, 15-12, following an Elon service error to win the match.

Senior Lauren Copenhagen registered a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs, while junior Caroline Lemke finished with15 kills, hitting a team-best .464. Junior Traci Stewart and sophomore Carly Ledbetter both tallied 12 kills for Elon.

In the opening set, the Phoenix saw its six-point advantage evaporate, as a late five-point run in the game by the Matadors put Elon behind, 23-22. But following a timeout by head coach Mary Tendler, the Phoenix regrouped to take the set and a 1-0 lead, as a kill by senior Sarah Schermerhorn and a Cal State Northridge error paved the way for a 25-23 win.

However, the Matadors would counter in the second set to knot the match at 1-1, as costly errors down the stretch by the Phoenix allowed CSUN to claim a 25-22 victory.

Elon responded with a 25-20 victory in the third set to take a 2-1 lead despite a late four-point run by the Matadors, as key blocks on the Phoenix front line and kills by Lemke and Stewart earlier in the game helped Elon take the win.

Despite a late four-point edge for CSUN in the fourth set, Elon came back to tie the game at 23-all after a kill from Lemke from McMahon. However, the Matadors would close out the Phoenix down the stretch to win the set, 25-23, and force a decisive fifth set, which they would go on to win, 15-12.

Elon concludes action at the Sacramento State Invitational tomorrow with a pair of matches versus the Sacramento State Hornets at 3:30 p.m. (EST) and UT San Antonio at 8 p.m. (EST).

--ELON--