ELON, N.C. – Haylie Clark recorded her second triple-double in as many matches, Kodi Garcia turned in a double-double, and Jordan Gower tallied 29 digs as the Elon University volleyball team defeated James Madison 3-1 on Wednesday, March 24 at Schar Center. With its fifth consecutive victory, the Phoenix is now 5-3 overall with a 3-2 mark in league play.
 
"Great team effort today, what an awesome way to finish up our home schedule in Schar Center," said head coach Mary Tendler after the match. "Proud of this team for staying focused and making key plays down the stretch to get the win. We look to keep this momentum going into the weekend matches in Charleston."

Elon 3, James Madison 1  (26-24, 30-28, 20-25, 27-25)
THE RUNDOWN
The opening set was back-and-forth from start to finish with neither side pulling away. It looked like the Dukes (5-2, 4-1 CAA) might earn the first set point at 24-23, but Clark assisted Julia Crabtree to knot up the score. JMU then committed an attack error before Gower set up Clark for the kill as the Phoenix won the set, 26-24.

Elon came out hot in Set Two, scoring five unanswered points to take an early 5-1 lead. After a JMU attack error made it a 13-8 Elon advantage, Alex VanWestrienen hit her stride with three-straight service aces that sent the Dukes back to their bench to regroup. The visitors would fight back, though, using a 6-0 run to pull even at 20-20. Another 4-0 push put the Dukes in position to clinch the set at 24-21, but Kellyn Trowse put away a ball from Garcia and JMU recorded a ball handling error and an attack error. The sides then traded points until kills by Crabtree and Trowse sealed the 30-28 decision for the maroon and gold.

In the third set, a 6-1 swing helped the Dukes take control at 20-15 and the guests never surrendered that lead. Elon earned three straight points to pull to within 24-20, but a JMU kill forced a fourth set with the 25-20 tally.

Set Five also saw Elon jump out to an early 5-1 lead. It was short-lived though as a 7-2 push allowed the Dukes to wrestle away control at 12-9. Facing the possibility of a fifth set with the Dukes ahead 24-22, Elon kept its hopes alive with kills from Gabi Croll, Leah Daniel and Natalie Cummins. JMU was able to tie the set at 25-25, but Cummins and Daniel connected for the final two points as the Phoenix took the set, 27-25.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
Clark's numbers included 19 assists, 10 kills and 13 digs. The Saint Cloud, Fla. native also had one service ace and one block. For Garcia, the senior tallied 26 assists and 13 digs. Daniel led the attack with 17 kills, recorded three blocks and had eight digs. Cummins also reached double-digit kills with 11 and ended up with one ace, three blocks and three digs. Gower picked up seven assists to go along with her match-high 29 digs. VanWestrienen continued her strong serving with four aces on the night, and Jenn Krzeminski chipped in a team-high four blocks. 

NOTES
- The win marks the program's first over the Dukes in the all-time series.
- Tonight was Elon's final home match of the season. The Phoenix finished with a 4-1 record when playing on Robertson Court this year.
- Clark now has three triple-doubles this season. She entered the match ranked fourth in the nation in that category.
- The maroon and gold held the advantage in service aces (9-3) and assists (52-51).
- Gower was just four digs shy of tying her career high, which she set in the 3-2 win over Davidson last Saturday.
- Elon's 52 assists and 89 digs mark season highs for four-set matches.
- Garcia has her eyes set on the 3,000-career assists mark as she now owns 2,750 in her time as a Phoenix.
- VanWestrienen entered the match leading the CAA with 0.43 aces per set. She now has 16 through 32 sets played to improve to 0.50 per set.

Up Next
Elon rounds out the regular season at College of Charleston this Saturday-Sunday, March 27-28. Both conference matches are scheduled for 1 p.m. starts at TD Arena.