ELON, N.C. – Elon University volleyball hung tough through the first two sets but couldn't match Hofstra's offense as the Phoenix fell 3-0 Sunday afternoon, Oct. 28, at Schar Center.
 
"I liked our effort today," said head coach Mary Tendler. "We competed and played much better against Hofstra than we did earlier in the season. We put ourselves in a position to win each of the first two sets. In the end, we struggled defending their well-balanced offense."
 
Elon drops to 13-11 on the season with a 4-8 mark in the CAA, while Hofstra wins its third-straight match to improve to 19-7, 9-3.
 
THE RUNDOWN
Hofstra scored three-unanswered points early in set one to take a 5-3 lead but kills by Leah Daniel and Alexa Pavlick allowed the maroon and gold to pull even at 7-all. The visitors again pulled ahead 12-8, but Elon again had an answer as another Daniel kill opened a 4-0 response. Elon couldn't keep up the back-and-forth, however, and a 6-1 swing gave the Pride enough separation to take the opening set.
 
The Phoenix earned the first two points of set two, but the guests quickly built a 10-5 advantage. Elon would rally from behind as a Nori Thomas score capped off a 3-0 run to tie the set at 15-all. Later, with both sides even at 23-all, HU secured the needed two points to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
Elon again held the lead at the start of the third set 3-1, but it was short-lived. A 7-1 run by HU put the Pride in control 13-8, and it would prove to be the difference maker. Elon was able to get back to within four points at 19-14, but the guests held on 25-17 to get the win.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
Daniel led the Phoenix offensively as the freshman scored 11 kills with a .281 hitting percentage. She also recorded four digs and had one block assist. Kam Terry neared a double-double with nine kills and 16 digs, and Kodi Garcia and Haylie Clark posted 14 and 12 assists, respectively. On the defensive side of the net, Maddie Jaudon collected 15 digs while Terry and Elizabeth Coil made three blocks each.

NOTES
-The Pride is now 9-1 in the all-time series, to include a 4-1 record when playing at Elon.
-The match featured 21 ties and seven lead changes.
-With five digs in the match, Erin Kelly is now just one shy of reaching 400 for her career.
-Garcia is also approaching a milestone as the sophomore setter needs 14 more assists to reach 2,000 as a Phoenix.
 
UP NEXT.
Elon has a pair of road matches next weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. contest at Towson on Friday, Nov. 2. The team will then play again two days later with a 1 p.m. opening serve at James Madison Sunday, Nov. 4.