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ELON, N.C. – After trailing 2-0, the Elon volleyball team rallied to hold off Hofstra for a brief time but eventually fell to the Pride, 3-1 (21-25, 18-25, 25-19, 21-25), tonight, Sept. 26, in Alumni Gym in the program's first Colonial Athletic Association match. Hofstra improves to 13-2 on the season and 1-0 in the CAA, while the Phoenix falls to 5-11 (0-1 CAA).
 
"The players gave it their all tonight against a very good and well coached Hofstra team," said Elon head coach #Mary Tendler#. "Overall, we were very consistent and played well. We tried everything to slow down their outside hitters, we just didn't get the job done well enough to win. It was a very exciting match to be a part of and we look forward to more battles against CAA opponents."
 
#Megan Gravley# posted 16 kills and eight digs, while Kris Harris hit .333 with 10 kills and two blocks. On defense, #Morgan Maner# led the way with 12 digs, while #Sydney Busa and Ally Karle# also posted two blocks along with Harris.
 
Off the serve of Kaitlyn Krause, the Pride got off to a 4-0 advantage in the first set. Hofstra led by as much as eight, 18-10, before two kills by both Gravley and Harris helped the Phoenix to a 7-2 run to close the gap to three, 20-17. The Pride was able to maintain its slight edge and move on to a 25-21 win.
 
With Hofstra leading by four, 8-4, in the second set, Elon used kills by #Chanelle Smith# and Gravley and two Pride errors to record four straight and even the set at eight-all. Hofstra answered with a 10-2 run to go up by as much as eight, 18-10, forcing an Elon timeout. Elon closed the gap to five, 23-18, after a Gravley kill, but the Pride held on to win 25-18 to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
Kills by Busa and Gravley and a block by #Catherine Head# and Gravley gave Elon a 7-4 advantage and forced the Pride to call an early timeout in the third set. Kills by Harris and Gravley, an ace by Smith and a block by Busa and Harris capped four straight for the maroon and gold and moved the advantage to six, 16-10. The Pride managed to pull within four, 19-15, but the Phoenix quickly moved back ahead, 22-16. A kill by Harris sealed the set win, 25-19, and kept the match alive for Elon.
 
The fourth set was tight in the beginning with eight ties by the time the score reached eight-all. Pride errors and a block by Karle and Harris put the Phoenix ahead by three, 11-8. Hofstra managed to even the set again, 12-all, and eventually take a 19-14 lead. Elon pulled back within three, 20-17, but Hofstra was able to close out the set, 25-21, and the match.
 
Elon continues conference play on Sunday, Sept. 28, when it hosts Northeastern in Alumni Gym at 2 p.m.