BOSTON – The Elon University volleyball team saved a pair of match points in the fourth set but could not force a fifth, as the Phoenix fell to Northeastern on Saturday, 26-24, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23. 
 
"We always have close, competitive matches with Northeastern on the road," head coach Mary Tendler said. "The difference in the outcome of the match comes down to some small things that we can control. The great thing is that we get another opportunity tomorrow." 
 
With the loss, Elon is now 3-2 in CAA matches and 5-9 overall. Northeastern improved to 1-2 in CAA play and 4-8 overall. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Phoenix started strong, racing out to an early 7-4 advantage behind three Sydney Love kills. However, a 9-2 run by the Huskies in the middle of the frame put Northeastern ahead 18-14. Elon answered with a scoring run of its own, as the maroon and gold took 11 of the next 15 points to set up a trio of set points at 24-21. The Phoenix could not convert any of the opportunities, as Northeastern rattled off the final five points to win the set, 26-24. 
• The second set featured five lead changes as the teams again traded scoring runs. A 5-1 run gave Northeastern a 22-20 lead late, but Elon again rallied, winning six of the eight points to win the second set 26-24.
• After Elon erased an early Northeastern lead in the third set, the Huskies used a late 6-1 run to go ahead 20-14. Elon could not get back within five points, as Northeastern won 25-19. 
• Leah Daniel started the third set with three consecutive kills for the Phoenix, but Elon fell behind 10-6. After the maroon and gold tied the score at 13-13, Northeastern again answered with a 5-0 run to go ahead. Down 24-21, Elon saved a pair of match points but could not save a third, as the Huskies won the set 25-23 to clinch the match. 

NOTES

• Leah Daniel finished the match with a team-high 17 kills and a season-best .382 hitting percentage. 
• The senior has 1,430 career kills and is 20 away from tying Emily Hayes, Elon's Division I era leader in kills (1,450). She is also now 31 away from tying Velma Degree (1,461), Elon's all-time leader in kills. 
• Jenn Krzeminski and Sydney Love both posted 10 kills. It is the second time this season Krzeminski has had double-digit kills in a match, as the senior also had 10 against NC State on Sept. 3.
• For the fourth time in the last five matches, Haylie Clark had at least 40 assists, as the senior racked up 41 against the Huskies. The senior had 15 assists in the first set.
• Jordan Gower led the Phoenix with 18 digs. Caroline Doyle added seven of her own. 
• Alex VanWestrienen paced Elon with a season-best three aces. 
• Elon finished the match with just seven total blocks, ending a streak of five consecutive matches with 10-plus blocks that began on Sept. 10 against UNCG. 
• Northeastern bested the Phoenix in kills (62-50), aces (12-7), assists (60-46) and digs (50-45). 
• With the loss, Elon is now 0-9 all-time on the road against Northeastern.   

UP NEXT
Elon faces Northeastern again on Sunday at 2 p.m. as the Phoenix looks for its first-ever road win against the Huskies.