DURHAM, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team opened the season with two wins on the first day of the Hilton RTP/NCCU Tournament today, August 26, inside McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium. In the morning match, the Phoenix defeated Hampton 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-9) before battling down to the wire against Florida Gulf Coast in a 3-2 (25-19, 25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 15-12) victory in the afternoon.

“I was impressed with team’s toughness today,” said head Elon volleyball coach Mary Tendler. “They pulled out the first match against Hampton this morning and the second match against Florida Gulf Coast this afternoon. Both teams were very competitive and we feel fortunate to come out 2-0 after first day. It was nice to see a lot of players play and be productive today and we anticipate the same thing tomorrow.”

Junior Carly Ledbetter recorded 21 kills and seven aces in the two matches. Freshman Chanelle Smith finished the day with 17 kills, while senior Megan McMahon tallied 58 assists. Junior Ali Deatsch led the defensive effort with 29 total digs.

In the first set against Hampton, Elon jumped out to an 8-5 lead, but a 4-1 run by the Lady Pirates tied the set at nine-all. The contest remained close at 17-all before a three straight points by the Phoenix made it a 20-17 game. Hampton kept it close and eventually claimed a 22-21 lead, but back-to-back kills by senior Caroline Lemke and Ledbetter put the Phoenix up 23-22 and forced the Lady Pirates to call their first timeout of the game. Out of the timeout, Hampton tied the set at 23-all before kills from Ledbetter and senior Traci Stewart gave Elon the 25-23 first-set win.

Down 6-3 in the second set, Elon rallied to take a 11-8 advantage. The Lady Pirates fought hard against Elon, making it 16-14, until the Phoenix caught fire and scored five unanswered points to take a commanding 21-14 lead. Hampton started a two-point run to make it 21-16, but Elon responded with the next four points, including an ace by Ledbetter, to register a 25-16 win and take a 2-0 match lead.

Elon went ahead 6-1 early in the third set, courtesy of two kills by Ledbetter and one from Stewart. Hampton pulled within five to make it 10-5, but many miscues by the Lady Pirates and kills by Stewart and junior Celia Rose Eddy helped the Phoenix claim a 15-8 advantage. Eight straight points by Elon moved the score to 23-8 and sealed the win. The Phoenix ended the third set, 25-9, and first match of the year with a kill from freshman Kris Harris.

In the first set against Florida Gulf Coast, the two teams jockeyed for position until Elon claimed a one-point advantage, 13-12. The Phoenix went on a 3-1 run to take a 16-13 advantage and force the Eagles to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, FGCU won the next point to bring the set within two, 16-14. However, a kill by Ledbetter put Elon back up three and spurred a three-point run to make it 19-14. The Phoenix continued its first-set control and held on for a 25-19 win.

After falling behind the Eagles, 9-4, the Phoenix rallied back to tie the set at 11-all. The points went back and forth until FGCU took firm a 20-17 lead late. The Eagles would eventually win, 25-17, to even the match at one-all.

Early in the third set, Ledbetter tallied three kills in a four-point span to help Elon take a 4-2 lead. The set remained tight with neither team taking more than a two-point lead until the Eagles went up 24-22 and finished with a 25-22 win.

With the match on the line, three early aces by senior Nickie Halbert and Ledbetter gave the Phoenix a slight 4-1 advantage. After the Elon lead became four, 8-4, FGCU tied it up at nine-all. Ledbetter recorded her fourth ace of the match to put the Phoenix back up by two, 13-11. With the score knotted at 16-all, the Phoenix registered five unanswered points to take a 21-16 lead. The maroon and gold went on to score four of the final six points to win the fourth set, 25-18, and send the match into a deciding fifth set.

The fifth and final set took the tone of the rest of the match, remaining tight until the Phoenix took a three-point lead, 8-5. But the Eagles battled back to tie the set at 10-all. With the score tied at 11-all, the Phoenix went on a three-point run, which was capped by a block by Lemke, to take a 14-11 lead. Elon sealed the deal on the next point to make it 15-12, claiming its second victory of the tournament.

Elon wraps up the Hilton RTP/NCCU Tournament tomorrow, August 27, when it takes on North Carolina Central at 9 a.m. and Campbell at 3 p.m.

-- ELON --