GREENVILLE, S.C. – Elon University volleyball secured its second 3-0 win in as many matches as the Phoenix (3-3) defeated Furman in straight sets on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Alley Gymnasium.

"We played all aspects of the match very well tonight," said head coach Mary Tendler. "Haylie Clark made great choices offensively and put our hitters in good positions to find success. Defensively, our block set the tone and we made plays behind it. So proud of the players for their focus and consistency throughout the weekend."
 
Elon 3, Furman 0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-16)
THE RUNDOWN
With the opening set tied at 14-14, Kellyn Trowse and Jenn Krzeminski recorded a pair of block assists to highlight a 5-0 run by the Phoenix. After the Paladins (3-2) earned back-to-back points to get to within 21-17, Clark assisted Sydney Love for a kill. Clark, Krzeminski and Leah Daniel added three more kills as the 4-0 run rounded out the set, 25-17.

Furman couldn't halt the Elon attack in Set Two as the maroon and gold went ahead, 11-2. A 6-1 swing helped the Paladins close the gap at 15-12, but a pair of 3-0 runs allowed the Phoenix to create some separation. Love put away three kills down the stretch as a 25-16 score gave Elon the 2-0 match lead.

Set Three looked a lot like Set Two as Elon scored five unanswered to build an 8-2 lead. A pair of Furman service aces gave the Paladins some late hope as they trailed 22-16, but kills by Love and Daniel and a Krzeminski solo block sealed the victory for the Phoenix.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
Daniel and Love paced the Phoenix attack with 14 and 12 kills, respectively. Daniel added four digs and two blocks to her totals, while Love had two digs with two blocks. Natalie Cummins scored eight kills, Krzeminski followed with seven and Clark collected 36 assists. Clark and Alex VanWestrienen also served one ace each. Jordan Gower led Elon with 17 digs and Trowse also reached double-digit digs with 13. At the net, Krzeminski recorded a team-high seven blocks, Trowse had three, and Cummins added one.
 
NOTES
- Elon has now won two straight against the Paladins and cuts Furman's lead in the all-time series to 15-7.
- The Phoenix swung for a .355 hitting percentage tonight, to include a .467 clip in Set One and a .417 percentage in Set Two. It marks Elon's best hitting percentage so far this season.
- The opening set featured 14 ties and eight lead changes. Elon then led the next two sets from start to finish.
- Elon led Furman in points (57.0-39.0), kills (47-34), blocks (8-3), assists (45-32) and digs (51-42). Both teams served two aces.
- Daniel scored 14-of-30 attempts for a .467 clip. It marks her highest hitting percentage this season and is her best since converting 5-of-7 (.714) attempts at N.C. Central on Oct. 17, 2018.
- Krzeminski's seven blocks mark a season high.
- Trowse is now one block away from reaching 100 for her career while Gower needs two digs to reach 600 in her time wearing the maroon and gold.

UP NEXT
Elon has its home opener this Wednesday, Sept. 8 as the team hosts Charlotte for a 6 p.m. match in Schar Center.