TOWSON, Md. – Elon University volleyball is headed to the CAA Championship Final for the first time in program history after defeating No. 6 seed Hofstra, 3-1 on Friday, Nov. 19 at SECU Arena.

"So proud of the players for stepping up and getting this historic win tonight," head coach Mary Tendler said. "They started confident and fought for every point from start to finish. This team has really good chemistry and loves to play together; they don't want their season to end. We look forward to having the opportunity to compete for a championship tomorrow."
 
Elon 3, Hofstra 1 (25-18, 25-23, 20-25, 25-19)
THE RUNDOWN
Elon broke an early 5-5 tie in the first set as Jenn Krzeminski scored a ball from Haylie Clark and Kellyn Trowse followed with back-to-back service aces. Kills from Krzeminski and Trowse and an ace by Alex VanWestrienen highlighted another 4-0 run as the No. 2 seed Phoenix (17-10) extended its lead, 13-7. The Pride (15-14) was able to pull to within 17-15, but a Natalie Cummins kill opened a 7-1 swing as the maroon and gold went up 24-16. After Hofstra earned the next two points, Jordan Gower assisted Trowse and the Phoenix claimed the set, 25-18.
 
Set Two was close from start to finish. A pair of Krzeminski kills and a third from Trowse allowed Elon to jump ahead, 8-6. Hofstra would not go away though, and a 4-1 push gave the Pride the lead at 14-13. Cummins and Clark recorded a block to open a 3-0 run that put the Phoenix ahead 19-17, but Hofstra tied the set again at 22-22 and 23-23. Clark then set up Leah Daniel for back-to-back kills as Elon went up two sets to nil with a 25-23 decision.
 
The Phoenix scored six unanswered to take an early 6-2 advantage in the third set. A block from Daniel and Cummins capped off another 4-0 run that made it 10-4. Elon held an 18-13 lead later in the set, but Hofstra came alive with an 8-1 swing that gave them control at 21-19. Elon earned the next point on a kill from Daniel to get to within a point. However, the Pride grabbed the next four points to keep their season alive.
 
VanWestrienen served an ace to start Set Four. A block assist by Daniel and Cummins and another by Cummins and Trowse keyed a 7-1 run as Elon built a comfortable 10-3 lead. An ace from Clark and kills by Cummins and Daniel then made it 19-11. A 6-1 swing helped Hofstra climb back to within 20-17, but Elon earned the win as Krzeminski and Daniel made the block for match point and a 25-19 tally.

 
HIGHLIGHTS
Two players recorded double-doubles: Clark finished with 41 assists and a team-high 17 digs while Trowse scored 11 kills with 11 digs. Daniel paced the attack and led both teams with 15 kills after hitting for .262. Krzeminski swung for an impressive .529 clip and reached double figures with 10 kills, and Trowse and VanWestrienen turned in two service aces each. Cummins had a strong night at the net with nine blocks (one solo), Daniel followed with five and Clark contributed four. Caroline Doyle and Gower chipped in 14 and 12 digs, respectively.
 

Hear from @ElonVB Head Coach, Mary Tendler after the win! #CAAChamps on @FloFC_https://t.co/OYNHOqWiI5 pic.twitter.com/PAnyNZUGrb

— Colonial Athletic Association (@CAASports) November 20, 2021

 
NOTES
- This is the first time in the program's NCAA Division I history that the Phoenix will play in a conference tournament final.
- This was Elon's third appearance in a conference tournament semifinal match and the second time in three seasons the team played in a CAA semifinal. The Phoenix fell 3-1 to No. 2 seed Georgia Southern at the 2010 SoCon Tournament and dropped its 2019 CAA semifinal match to Towson, 3-1.
- Elon trims Hofstra's lead in the all-time series to 10-5.
- This is the first time in the series that the Phoenix has defeated the Pride three times in one season.
- Elon outhit Hofstra, .211 - .160.
- The Phoenix edged the Pride in points (76.0-62.0), kills (56-50), assists (52-47), service aces (7-1) and blocks (13-11). Hoftra recorded more digs, 74-71.
- The match featured 21 ties, including 14 in the second set, and seven lead changes.
- The double-double marked the seventh of the season for Clark. The senior also set a new career high in digs and eclipsed 1,900 career assists.
- Cummins was one block shy of tying her career best of 10.
- Daniel tied her career high in blocks.
- Doyle also had a career day in digs. Her previous best was eight at Charleston back on Sept. 18.

UP NEXT
Elon will square off with top-seeded Towson in tomorrow's Championship Final. The match is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start at SECU Arena and will be streamed live on FloVolleyball.