DURHAM, N.C. – Leah Daniel became Elon's Division I leader in kills as the Elon University volleyball team cruised to a straight sets victory over NC Central on Wednesday in its final non-conference match of the regular season. 
 
"For the players to perform like they did tonight was incredible," head coach Mary Tendler said. "Even though the academic demands on them are very high right now, they were able to stay focused throughout the match and get the win." 
 
With eight kills against the Eagles, Daniel has 1,452 in her career and passed Emily Hayes (1,450) to become Elon's Division I era leader in the category. The senior needs just 10 more to pass Velma Degree (1,461) and become Elon's all-time kills leader.   
 
"Congratulations to Leah for breaking Elon's Division I career kill record," Tendler said. "It has been fun to watch her get better and better each year. She works hard and deserves this achievement." 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Daniel and fellow senior Claire Richey powered Elon's offense early, as the seniors both registered three kills in the opening set. Up 11-9, the Phoenix went on a 6-0 run to go ahead 17-9. The Eagles could not trim the gap to less than five, as Elon closed out the set with two kills by Brooke Doherty. 
• After trailing 8-7 early in the second set, Elon won 17 of the next 25 points to win the frame in commanding fashion, 25-12. Four aces in seven points by Ericka Link helped fuel the Phoenix run. Daniel eclipsed Hayes to become Elon's Division I era kills leader with her seventh kill of the match, which put the Phoenix ahead 14-9 at the time. 
• Central again took an early lead in the third set and held a 12-10 advantage before an 8-4 run by Elon gave the Phoenix an 18-14 lead. Central battled back to get within one point at 22-21 but Elon won the final three points, as an ace Haylie Clark secured a 25-21 final set triumph.  

NOTES

• Freshman Brooke Doherty tied Daniel with a team-high eight kills. It was the most kills in a match for Doherty since she registered a career-best 12 against Florida A&M on Sept. 9. 
• Sydney Love and Jenn Krzeminski had seven kills each. 
• Claire Richey made her first start of the season and finished with a career-high five kills. It was just the third time the senior has tallied multiple kills in a match, the last time coming against College of Charleston on March 27, 2021, when she had three. She also had a team-high four blocks. 
• Haylie Clark paced the Phoenix with 28 assists. The senior has finished with at least 25 assists in 13 of Elon's 16 matches this season, including 12 in a row. 
• Jordan Gower led the maroon and gold with 18 digs. The senior has surpassed 15 digs in six consecutive matches and has double-digit digs in all of her appearances this season. 
• For the fifth time this season, Alex VanWestrienen had double-digit digs, as the senior finished with 11. 
• Ericka Link had a career-high four aces, all of which came in a seven-point span in the second set. The junior did not have any aces this season entering the match and had just two aces in her previous two seasons with the Phoenix. 
• As a team, Elon hit 11 aces, just one short of its season-best of 12 which came on Sept. 9 against Florida A&M. 
• The Phoenix outpaced the Eagles in total blocks (8-1), kills (40-25), assists (37-23), digs (56-46) and aces (11-4). 
• With the win, Elon finishes its non-conference slate with a 3-7 record.  

UP NEXT

• After a bye weekend, the Phoenix returns to CAA play with a series against Towson on Oct. 15-16. The Tigers are 16-0 (6-0 CAA) and received 30 votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll. Both matches at Schar Center are scheduled for 2 p.m.