ELON, N.C. – A stellar offensive performance from the Elon University volleyball team propelled them past UNCG, sweeping the Spartans 3-0 on Saturday night. The Phoenix had their best hitting percentage of the season at .313, adding 48 kills.
 
Elon 3, UNCG 0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-17)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Elon got ahead 5-3 early in the first set thanks to two kills and a block from Catherine Rucker. The Phoenix kept the momentum scoring four of the next seven points to go up three at 9-6. UNCG slowly chipped at the lead and eventually knotted the score at 13-13. From there, each team traded points with no team leading by more than one until Elon went up 20-18. The Spartans again came back to tie the score at 21-21 but that's all they would get as four straight Elon points, capped by three straight kills from Cameron Lanier, ended the first set 25-21.
• The maroon and gold carried the energy into the second set with two quick blocks from Sydney Love and Caroline Berlekamp put Elon up 3-1. Elon went on a 6-3 run with Annabelle Schall adding another ace to the books to lead 9-4 and force a UNCG timeout. The Phoenix didn't press the brakes extending their lead to 14-7 midway through the frame. The Spartans put together a 5-2 run of their own to get within four at 16-12. Again, the teams went back and forth, but a late 5-1 run from the Spartans cut the Elon lead to only two at 23-21. UNCG fought off one set point but a kill from Lanier ended set two with the Phoenix on top 25-22.
• It was a back-and-forth fight to start the third set as neither team led by more than one until a kill from Love and a Spartan error put Elon up 7-5. The Phoenix kept their focus going on an 8-3 run pulling ahead 15-8. The maroon and gold rallied off another three straight points going up 19-11 forcing a UNCG timeout. With the score at 24-14, the Spartans saved three straight match points but a service error from UNCG ended the set and match 25-17 for Elon's first sweep of the season.

NOTES 

• Elon's offense was again led by Sydney who recorded 16 kills while adding 10 digs for her second double-double of the season.
• Kayla Palmer led the Phoenix in assists with 21 while Annabelle Schall added 19.
• Catherine Rucker was a force on both sides for the Phoenix adding eight kills and tying for the team lead with Love with three blocks.
• Caroline Doyle had another double-digit dig performance with 14 digs to lead the team.
• As a team, Elon outnumbered UNCG in kills (48-34), blocks (5-4), assists (47-31) and digs (50-42).

 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP – Ella Vogel (Murray State)
Federica Nuccio (Murray State)
Bailey DeMier (Murray State)
Sydney Love (Elon)
Caroline Berlekamp (Elon)
Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG) 
Lauren Johnson (N.C. Central)
 
UP NEXT 

• The maroon and gold return home to Schar Center on Tuesday, Sept. 10 for a matchup against Norfolk State at 7:00 p.m. for Disco Night.