ELON, N.C. – Elon University volleyball fought back from a 2-1 match deficit and used a late 5-1 push in Set Five to secure a win over Delaware Saturday night, Oct. 12 in Schar Center.
 
"Even though we didn't win the first set, we started the match but better than we have lately," said head coach Mary Tendler after the victory. "That enabled us to be confident going into the second set where our defense picked up. It was a great win for our team tonight and now we have to put together another good effort against Towson tomorrow."
 
The win gives the Phoenix a 9-10 record overall with a 4-2 mark in league play.
 
Elon 3, Delaware 2 | 21-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-19, 15-13
THE RUNDOWN
Both sides traded sets as the Blue Hens (11-5, 3-2) earned a 25-21 decision in the opening set before Elon answered with another 25-21 tally in Set Two. In the third set, neither team could pull away as it was a tight race from start to finish. Behind 24-22, kills by Natalie Cummins and Nori Thomas evened the score, but Delaware's Maria Bellinger had a pair of successful swings to give the guests a 2-1 advantage.

Delaware opened the fourth set with four unanswered, but Elon finally got going with a 5-0 run. A Jenn Krzeminski kill and a pair of Kellyn Trowse aces put the Phoenix out front 15-11, and a pair of Thomas kills highlighted a 3-0 run that made it 21-15 in favor of the maroon and gold. Kodi Garcia then assisted Krzeminski for the set point, forcing a decisive set.

The Phoenix built an early 5-2 lead in Set Five thanks to a pair of Leah Daniel scores, a pair of Delaware attack errors, and a Haylie Clark service ace. After a Daniel serve dropped in for an ace to double up on the visitors 8-4, the Blue Hens surged back with five-straight points. With the set tied at 11-11, Garcia set up Krzeminski, Daniel, and Clark as Elon won three points. The Phoenix committed a couple of errors to give Delaware some hope, but Daniel snuffed that out with one final attack.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
It was a team effort as multiple players reached double-digits. On offense, Daniel turned in her second double-double in as many matches with 22 kills and 11 digs. The sophomore added a .250 hitting percentage with two service aces and four blocks. Thomas and Krzeminski followed with 10 kills each, Garcia finished with a season-high 33 assists, and Clark contributed 24 assists. Seman turned in a team-high 21 digs, Trowse had 11 digs, and Cummins led both teams with eight blocks.

NOTES
-Tonight marked the ninth five-set match of the season for the Phoenix.
-Elon is tied for second in the conference standings with James Madison. The Dukes earned a straight-set win at William & Mary earlier tonight.
-The Phoenix trims Delaware's lead in the all-time series to 7-4.
-Daniel's double-double is the second of her career. She has now scored double-digit kills in 14 straight matches.
-Krzeminski's kill total marks a new career high for the freshman out of Furlong, Pa.
-With 2,528 career assists, Garcia is now sixth on the program's career leaders list. The Tomball, Texas native moves past Ana Nicksic (2012-15), who is now seventh with 2,492.
-The match featured 44 ties and 23 lead changes.
-Elon led Delaware in kills (63-59), hitting percentage (.190 - .180), assists (59-58), services aces (6-4), and points (81.0 - 77.0).
 
UP NEXT
Elon returns to the hardwood tomorrow afternoon, Oct. 13 for a 2 p.m. meeting with conference opponent Towson.