ELON, N.C. – Back in action for the first time in 10 days, the Elon University volleyball program fell in straight sets 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-18) to North Carolina Tuesday night, Sept. 18, at Schar Center.
 
"After such a long break, it felt really good to be able to play again," said head coach Mary Tendler. "Thanks go out to so many people at Elon and at UNC for helping to make this match possible. I was really happy with our defense and the energy we had going in the first set. We just didn't make the plays we needed to at the end to win it. The second set we got behind early, but made a good push at the end to get some momentum going into the third. Overall, this match helped us prepare for our first CAA contest on Friday and we look forward to getting off to a good start in conference."
 
THE RUNDOWN
The Phoenix (8-3) built an early 5-1 lead in the opening set, but the Tar Heels (4-5) fought back to knot the score at 11-11. After another tie at 18-all, UNC took over from there and closed out the set with a 7-2 run to pickup an early 1-0 lead.
 
Elon opened set two with a Kam Terry kill, but UNC took off on a an 11-4 swing before Haylie Clark assisted Nori Thomas for a point to end the run. The maroon and gold pulled to within 23-17, but the visitors held on for the 25-18 decision.
 
Both teams traded points early in the final set before the Tar Heels scored four unanswered. Later, an Alexa Pavlick kill trimmed UNC's lead to 12-9, but the guests refused to let Elon get any closer. Despite three straight points for the Phoenix, North Carolina held on for the straight-set victory.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
Offensively, Kellyn Trowse scored nine kills with a .217 hitting percentage to lead Elon. Terry and Leah Daniel followed with eight kills apiece. Kodi Garcia collected 23 assists with a pair of service aces. On the other side of the net, Maddie Jaudon and Isabella Seman recorded 16 and 12 digs, respectively. Eight different student-athletes recorded a block, led by Natalie Cummins with two.
 
NOTES
-Terry now has 1,113 career kills and ranks 10th on the program's career leaders list. She needs 30 more to pull even with Juliena Gignon ('06) in ninth.
 
UP NEXT
Elon opens CAA play this Friday, Sept. 21 as the Phoenix head to Charleston, S.C., for a 7 p.m. meeting with College of Charleston at TD Arena.