HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team (0-4) suffered another heartbreaking five-set defeat tonight, Sept. 1, at High Point (2-2) with the Panthers taking the 3-2 victory (25-20, 24-26, 25-20, 12-25, 14-16) in the Millis Center.
 
"Seems like this is becoming a habit – going five sets in matches against High Point," said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. "The execution wasn't great on either side, but both teams fought hard. Our block was very effective tonight, which is an improvement from our last match."
 
In the fifth set, Elon found itself in trouble early, trailing 6-1. With the Panthers holding a 14-9 advantage and set point, the Phoenix used kills by Sydney Busa and Megan Gravley and a block by Michelle Klein and Ebony Scott to even the score, 14-all. However, HPU would take the last two points for the 16-14 win.
 
The Phoenix defense out-blocked the Panthers, 13-6, with the help of a career-high 10 blocks from Cat Head. Both Gravley and Scott tallied three blocks, while Maddie Jaudon finished with 19 digs.
 
Gravley led all players with 19 kills and fell just short of the double-double with nine digs. Head tallied six kills followed by Busa with five.
 
Haley Barnes recorded a team-high 14 kills for HPU, while Annemarie Chin posted 26 digs.
 
How it happened: Elon was forced to call its second timeout of the first set with the Phoenix trailing by five, 18-13. The maroon and gold came out of the break with a purpose as block by Ally Karle and Sydel Curry gave Elon its first lead, 20-19. Kills by Busa and Karle closed out the set for a 25-20 maroon and gold win as the Phoenix closed out a 12-2 run.
 
Set two saw eight ties by the time Elon claimed an 18-17 advantage. A kill by Terry gave the Phoenix set point, 24-23, but the Panthers would rally to claim the final three points for a 26-24 win to even the match.
 
With Elon leading 13-9 in the third set, HPU was able to claim six straight points to take a 15-13 edge. Off the serve of Kayla Agae, Elon responded a few plays later with a 7-0 run to move ahead by four, 22-18. Kills by Scott and Gravley sealed the victory, 25-20, as the Phoenix took a 2-1 match lead.
 
Elon kept the fourth set close in the beginning with kills by Klein, Gravley and Head before the Panthers pulled away for a 25-12 win to once again even the match and send it into a deciding fifth set.
 
Notes: Elon held a 4-0 advantage in blocks after the first set…HPU did not record a block until the third set…The Phoenix hit .158 in the match, while the Panthers hit .141.
 
Up next: The Phoenix hosts its annual Elon Phoenix Classic as it plays its first home matches this weekend. Elon takes on Charleston Southern in the first night of the tournament on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym.