TOWSON – The Elon University volleyball team took a 2-0 lead and earned a five-set victory at Towson on Saturday (25-22, 25-21, 16-25, 15-25, 17-15), snapping the Tigers' 18-match winning streak.
 
The Phoenix (5-14, 3-5 CAA) handed Towson (18-3, 9-1 CAA) its first conference loss and first overall setback since Aug. 29. Elon's Clara Simmons recorded a match-high 18 kills to lead the Maroon and Gold offense, while Simrin Carlsen added 11 kills and 19 digs for her second straight double-double and eighth of the season.
 
Towson was led by Malinah Purcell-Telefoni with 14 kills, while teammates Addison Leber (13) and Erin Brothers (12) also finished in double figures.
 
THE RUNDOWN

• In the opening frame, Elon trailed 8-4 before rallying with a 6-1 run to take a 12-10 lead. Towson responded with an 8-1 stretch to go ahead 18-13 and was the first to reach 20 at 20-18. The Phoenix closed on a 5-1 run to regain the lead, 23-21, before the set was tied at 23-all. Elon remained composed and converted the next two points to secure the opener.
• The second set featured several early ties before Towson edged ahead 10-9. Elon answered with a 6-1 spurt to move in front 15-11 and extended its lead to six, 22-16, after a Carlsen kill. The Tigers pulled within three, but the Phoenix responded with the final three points to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
• Towson jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the third set, and though Elon stayed close, the Tigers used a 4-0 run to push their advantage to 18-12. Towson hit the 20-point mark on a kill and finished the frame on a 5-1 run to win 25-16.
• The Tigers carried that momentum into the fourth, building a 13-4 lead before Elon called timeout. Towson maintained control, keeping its nine-point cushion on the way to a 25-16 win that forced a deciding fifth set.
• In the final frame, Towson raced to an 11-5 lead, but the Phoenix refused to fold. A Simmons kill sparked a 6-1 rally that brought Elon within one at 12-11. The Tigers reached match point at 14-12, but consecutive Towson attack errors kept the Phoenix alive and evened the score at 14-all. After Towson went ahead 15-14, Cameron Lanier delivered a kill to tie it once more. Simmons followed with her 18^th kill to give Elon its first match point, and a Towson attack error sealed the Phoenix's comeback win.

 
NOTES AND STATS

• The victory marked Elon's first over Towson since Oct. 15, 2022, at Schar Center, and its first win at Towson since Oct. 2, 2021.
• Kayla Palmer posted a career-high 26 assists to lead the Phoenix offense. April Rice added 21 assists.
• Catherine Rucker tallied nine kills, one shy of her career high, and served three aces, also one short of her personal best.
• Elon out blocked the Tigers, 9-8, in the match. Kyla Johnson had six blocks in the contest to lead Elon.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon hosts Piedmont Triad rival North Carolina A&T at Schar Center for a two-match CAA series on Oct. 24 and 25. Both contests will stream on FloCollege.

 
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