NEWARK, Del. – Elon University volleyball secured its spot in the CAA Championship Tournament with a straight-set victory at Delaware Sunday afternoon, Nov. 10 at the Bob Carpenter Center. 
 
"We were very consistent today from start to finish and came up with some clutch plays at crucial times," said head coach Mary Tendler. "I love the energy and confidence from our team right now as we enter our final weekend of CAA play and prepare for the tournament."

The Phoenix is now 13-16 on the season with a 7-8 conference record.
 
Elon 3, Delaware 0 | 25-18, 26-24, 25-22
THE RUNDOWN
After a Leah Daniel kill tied the first set at 10-10, a pair of Delaware attack errors gave Elon a lead that it never surrendered. Ahead 23-18 late, Kodi Garcia set Julia Crabtree for a score and the Blue Hens (13-12, 5-9) committed three straight errors as the Phoenix won the first set point.

The hosts opened Set Two with the first four points, but three kills from Daniel highlighted a 5-0 response. Later in the set, Haylie Clark, Daniel, and Natalie Cummins each served an ace to help build a 19-15 advantage and force a Delaware timeout. Elon looked to claim the set at 24-21, but the Blue Hens fought back for a 24-24 tie. However, the Blue Hens couldn't complete the comeback as Daniel converted an attack and Cummins and Nori Thomas recorded a block for the 2-0 match lead.

Set Three was close until a Delaware service error and another ace by Cummins put Elon in front, 17-15. The home team was able to get to within a point at 22-21 before Kellyn Trowse followed a Daniel kill with one of her own. The Blue Hens then scored a kill but had an attack error as the Phoenix took the match, 3-0.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
Daniel led both teams with 16 kills as she hit for a .353 clip. The sophomore added a service ace and a block assist to account for 17.5 points. Clark reached 17 assists, Garcia followed with 15, and Cummins served two aces with four blocks. Isabella Seman neared double-digit digs with nine, while Trowse and Jordan Gower each had five digs.

NOTES
-With the win, Elon trims Delaware's lead in the all-time series to 7-5.
-The Phoenix will make its second appearance in the CAA Tournament since joining the league in 2014. The team made its first appearance during the 2017 season, but fell to third-seeded James Madison in five sets.
-Elon sweeps the Blue Hens in the regular season for the first time. The teams split their meetings in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
-Elon converted 14-of-19 (.737) attacks in the opening set.
-The match featured 20 ties and eight lead changes.
-The Phoenix edged the Blue Hens in service aces (6-3), blocks (7.0 - 3.0), and points (49.0 - 46.0). Elon also outhit Delaware, .273 - .179.
 
UP NEXT
Elon finishes the regular season with a 7 p.m. match at Towson this Friday, Nov. 15. The Tigers won in four sets at UNCW on Sunday and are atop the league standings at 24-2, 14-0.