HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Elon volleyball team was not able to knock off the conference leader Hofstra today, Oct. 26, suffering a 3-0 (21-25, 14-25, 19-25) setback on the road in the Mack Physical Education Center.
 
"We played a better defensive game against Hofstra than we did when they visited us and our block was very effective," said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. "Hofstra had better ball control which I thought was a big difference in the match. Both of our setters did a good job of following the game plan and getting some good opportunities for our hitters. We look forward to returning home next weekend and honoring our seniors."
 
Ally Karle finished the match with a team-high eight kills, while Sydney Busa recorded seven. On defense, the Phoenix out blocked the Pride, 8-4, with the help of a match-high five blocks by Catherine Head and four blocks by Busa.
 
Trailing by two in the first set, 9-7, kills by Karle, Head, Busa and Ana Nicksic helped the Phoenix even the set at 10-all. Elon claimed the lead, 13-12, after kills by Kayla Agae and Karle before the Pride rallied with a 6-2 run to regain the advantage, 18-15. The maroon and gold answered with a kill by Karle and a block by Busa and Head to close the gap to one, 18-17. Kills by Karle, Chanelle Smith and a block by Busa and Head would keep the Phoenix close but Hofstra was able to maintain its edge and took the set, 25-21.
 
The Phoenix was forced to call an early timeout in the second set with Hofstra leading, 7-2. After a block by Kris Harris and Busa and a kill by Agae pulled the maroon and gold within four, 8-4, the Pride extended its lead to nine, 13-4. Off the serve of Morgan Maner, Elon went on a 5-0 run with the help of kills by Harris and Head, two blocks by Head and Karle and an ace by Maner to close the gap to four, 13-9. However, the Pride rebuilt its strong lead and won, 25-14.
 
After Hofstra took an early 4-1 lead in the third set, kills by Agae, Busa and Harris and an ace by Head helped even the score at six-all. A block by Head and Karle and kills by Gravley and Busa kept the Phoenix within one before a Karle kill evened the set again, 12-all. With Hofstra leading, 17-13, a kill by Karle and an ace by Maner put the maroon and gold back within two. A kill by Busa and a block by Busa and Harris kept the Phoenix deficit at two, 21-19, forcing a Pride timeout. Out of the break, Hofstra managed to take the final four points for a 25-19 victory.
 
Elon returns home next weekend for its final two home matches, beginning with a match against William & Mary on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym.