ELON, N.C. – Delaware fought back to force a fifth set, but Elon University volleyball edged the visitors 17-15 to secure the 3-2 victory on Saturday night, Sept. 25 at Schar Center.

"We knew Delaware was a very good team and they proved that tonight," head coach Mary Tendler said after the match. "Our team came out ready to go from the start and stayed confident even we were behind. I like how hard they are willing to fight together to get the win."
 
Elon 3, Delaware 2 (25-15, 25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 17-15)
THE RUNDOWN
The Phoenix (8-5, 3-0 CAA) scored seven unanswered points to take an early 7-1 lead in the opening set. After a 3-0 run by the Blue Hens (5-7, 0-3) got the visitors to within 11-6, Haylie Clark set up Leah Daniel for a score. The play opened a 6-1 response as the maroon and gold pulled ahead 17-7, but a 5-0 run allowed UD to stay within striking distance. Down the stretch, Clark assisted Daniel and Kellyn Trowse before a pair of Delaware errors allowed the Phoenix to win the set, 25-15.

UD came out to a quick 6-1 advantage to start the second set, but Elon wrestled away control with a 10-0 run. Later in the set, the Blue Hens pulled ahead 20-18 thanks to a 10-1 push. However, the maroon and gold earned the next seven points for the 25-20 tally.

Delaware found itself in the third set, with the guests building a 19-8 lead thanks to a 6-0 spurt. Kills from Clark and Daniel and an ace by Jenn Krzeminski closed the gap at 19-12. Elon would get to within 22-17, but the Blue Hens avoided the sweep with a score of 25-17.

The fourth set remained close until 6-1 swing allowed UD to take over at 22-16. A block by Krzeminski and Clark got the Phoenix to within 22-18, but the visitors forced a fifth set with a 25-20 decision.

It looked as though Delaware might complete the comeback as the Blue Hens rushed out to a 6-2 lead in Set Five. Another block by Clark and Krzeminksi shrunk the UD lead down to 7-6, but the Blue Hens put together a 4-0 run. Momentum then swung to Elon as Natalie Cummins followed a UD attack error with a kill and Krzeminski served an ace. After another UD attack error, Clark assisted Daniel on back-to-back kills to give Elon the lead at 12-11. The teams then traded points until a Delaware service error and an attack error gave the Phoenix the win at 17-15.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
Daniel paced Elon's attack as the CAA Offensive Player of the Week led both teams with 22 kills. The Zionsville, Ind. native turned in a .278 hitting percentage and added three blocks and five digs to her totals. Sydney Love followed Daniel in kills with 12, and Cummins and Trowse contributed five each. Clark gathered 39 assists on the night and Krzeminski led Elon's servers with four aces. On defense, Cummins and Krzeminski recorded five blocks each while Clark matched Daniel with three blocks. Jordan Gower led the back row with 19 digs, Alex VanWestrienen just missed double digits with nine, and Krzeminski tallied eight.
 
NOTES
- With the win, Elon trims UD's lead in the all-time series to 7-6.
- Elon opens league play 3-0 for the third time in the program's Division I history. Elon also went 3-0 in 2006 when the team was a member of the SoCon and started 3-0 in the CAA during the 2019 season.
- Elon has now won four straight against the Blue Hens.
- Delaware entered the match leading the CAA with 2.19 service aces per set and totaled 12 on the night.
- Elon outhit Delaware, .247 - .172.
- The Phoenix also edged the Blue Hens in blocking, 10-8.
- The match featured 18 ties, including six in the deciding set, and seven lead changes.
- Trowse is now two kills shy of 600 for her career while Clark is two away from 200.
- Clark eclipsed 1,400 career assists tonight.
- Love tied her season high in kills. It marks the third time this season she has reached 12 kills and the fourth time she has reached double-digit kills.

UP NEXT
The teams will meet again tomorrow with a 1:30 first serve from Schar Center.