ELON, N.C. – The Elon University volleyball team earned a five-set victory against College of Charleston on Sunday, as the Phoenix rallied from behind to secure a weekend split with the Cougars. 
 
"We had some players post some big numbers today, but the result of this match has much more to do with the effort put forth by everyone on the team," head coach Mary Tendler said. "We had players play in positions they have never played before, but every single person had faith in their teammates that they were going to do their job and that we would find a way to win. This team amazed me today." 
 
The win is Elon's first ever in a home match against College of Charleston and improves the maroon and gold's record to 8-12 on the season (5-5 in conference play). The Cougars fall to 10-13 overall and 5-5 in league play with the loss. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Charleston led by as many as eight in the opening set, as the Cougars raced out to a 21-13 advantage. However, Elon responded with a 7-0 run to get back within one point. Down 24-22, the Phoenix saved a pair of set points and saved another at 25-24 with a kill by Leah Daniel. Charleston saved three set points of their own to tie the score at 29-29 before kills by Haylie Clark and Daniel gave Elon the 31-29 victory. 
• The Phoenix led early in the second but a 4-0 run in the middle of the set gave Charleston a 13-10 lead. Elon again rallied and retook the lead with a 4-0 run that put them ahead 23-20. This time, it was the Cougars who finished strong, as they won six of the final seven points to earn a 26-24 win. 
• After trailing early in the third set, an 8-0 Phoenix run that included three Brooke Doherty kills gave Elon a 14-8 lead. Charleston got back within three points but a kill by Sydney Love won the set for the maroon and gold, 25-20. 
• Elon trailed by four early in the fourth set but took the lead at 14-13. The Cougars immediately answered with a 4-0 scoring spurt and never looked back, as Charleston went on to force a fifth with a 25-21 triumph. 
• The Cougars took an early 7-4 lead in the fifth set, but Elon again stormed back, winning seven straight points to take an 11-7 lead. The 7-0 run included kills by Clark, Doherty and Daniel. The Phoenix went on to win four of the next seven points, clinching a 15-10 final set victory with a Love kill. 

NOTES

• Freshman Brooke Doherty tallied a career-high 22 kills on 47 attacks to lead the Phoenix. The Holly Springs, N.C., native has posted double-digit kills in consecutive matches for the first time in her career, as she had 10 kills on Saturday against the Cougars. 
• Sydney Love also posted a career-high in kills, as the sophomore finished the match with 18, including three in the final set. Love also attempted a season-high 40 attacks. The Chesapeake, Va., native has double-digit kills in three of the last four contests. 
• Leah Daniel totaled 20 kills, one short of her season high of 21, which came against VCU on Aug. 27. The senior also tied her season-high with 57 attacks. 
• With 30 assists, 13 digs and 10 kills, Haylie Clark posted her fourth career triple-double and first since March 24, 2021, against James Madison. The senior has tallied double-digit assists in every match this season and has reached 30 assists in 12 of Elon's 20 matches. The Saint Cloud Fla., native also has at least five kills in four consecutive matches, her longest such streak since she posted five plus kills in eight straight contests during the 2021 spring season. 
• Ericka Link set career-highs in assists (30) and digs (15) to post her second career double-double. The junior tied Clark for the most assists on the day and has racked up double-digit assists in three of the last four matches. 
• In her third start of the season, Claire Richey tied her career-best with a team-high seven blocks. 
• Jordan Gower tallied 22 digs to lead the maroon and gold. The senior has double-digit digs in all her appearances this season and has eclipsed 20 digs on six occasions. 
• Sydney Daniels reached double-digit digs (13) for the first time she delivered a career-high 28 against UNCG on Sept. 10. Caroline Doyle (10) also finished with double-digit digs for the fifth time this year. 
• As a team, Elon bested Charleston in kills (76-59), digs (98-81), assists (69-54) and aces (6-3). 
• Elon posted season-highs in team kills, digs and assists. 
• The win is Elon's first ever in a home match Charleston, as the Phoenix entered with an 0-13 mark in home contests against the Cougars. 
• The win improves Elon's record in five set matches this season to 3-3. The Phoenix has won its last two five setters. 

UP NEXT
The maroon and gold travels to Hampton on Oct. 29-30 to face first-year Colonial Athletic Association member Hampton. Both matches are slated to start at 2 p.m.