ELON, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team kept each set close but was not able to claim a set win against Northeastern, falling 3-0 (21-25, 24-26, 22-25), today, Sept. 28, in Alumni Gym. The win marked the first of the season in Colonial Athletic Association play for the Huskies (8-7, 1-1 CAA), while the Phoenix is now 5-12 (0-2 CAA).
 
"This was a tough match for our team today," said Elon head coach #Mary Tendler#. "We played really well and put forth a lot of effort to build leads but couldn't seem to finish down the stretch. Credit goes to Northeastern for making the plays necessary to win."
 
#Ally Karle# posted 10 blocks off 20 attempts and only one error to hit .429, while #Megan Gravley led all players with 15 kills. Chelsea Rafetto# recorded a double-double with 31 assists (10.3/set) and 15 digs both of which were team-highs. #Catherine Head# finished with four blocks, two solo, to help the maroon and gold to seven total team blocks.
 
In the first set, kills by Gravley, Head and Karle helped Elon to a 7-3 advantage. After a block by #Kris Harris and Sydney Busa# helped the Phoenix maintain the four-point lead, 11-7, the Huskies rallied to even the score at 14-all. The set would see three more ties by the time the score reached 18-all and Northeastern moved ahead 20-18. Kills by Harris and Busa kept the maroon and gold within one, 21-20, but the Huskies held off the Phoenix for a 25-21 win.
 
The second set started off tight with seven ties before a block by Harris and Gravley and a kill by Gravley gave Elon an 11-9 lead. The Phoenix led by as much as five, 18-13, before Northeastern used the serve of Ashlee Asada to score five straight and even the score again, 18-all. The teams would trade points back and forth until Elon claimed set point, 24-23, after a Gravley kill. The Huskies then managed to take the next three points and win the set, 26-24.
 
The third set took on the tone of the others with a tight score through most of the set. Neither team led by more than two points with Elon holding the advantage most of the time and then moving out to a 20-16 lead after back-to-back kills by Harris. Northeastern tied the score for the seventh time of the set, 21-all, and then took the edge, 23-22. The Huskies closed out the set and the match with the final two points to take a 25-22 victory and the match sweep.
 
Elon makes its first CAA road trip next week with a match at James Madison on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. in Harrisonburg, Va.