BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Elon University volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision (20-25, 22-25, 13-25) to Campbell on Friday evening to open its CAA series at Gilbert Craig Gore Arena.
 
Elon (5-17, 3-8 CAA) was limited to 30 kills in the match, with Cameron Lanier and Simrin Carlsen leading the Phoenix with eight apiece. Casey Brower paced the defense with 12 digs, while Kayla Palmer and April Rice combined for 24 assists.
 
Campbell (17-5, 9-2) had two players reach double-digit kills, led by Maja Daca with 12 and Gwen Wolkow with 11. The Camels finished with a .389 team hitting percentage.
 
THE RUNDOWN

• Elon opened the first set with a 3-1 lead, but Campbell rallied to move ahead 7-5. The Camels were the first to reach double digits, going up 10-8 before Elon forced several ties, including at 17-17 after a Campbell service error. The hosts regained a two-point edge at 20-18, and despite another service error that pulled Elon within one, Campbell closed the frame on a 5-1 run to win 25-20.
• The Phoenix again jumped out early in the second set, taking an 8-5 advantage after a block from Carlsen and Caroline Berlekamp. A 5-0 Campbell run put the Camels on top 10-8, and they extended the lead to 12-9. Elon answered with a 5-1 surge to go ahead 14-13 on a Lanier kill. The teams traded points from there, with Elon leading 19-18 after a Carlsen kill. Campbell responded with a 4-0 spurt to reclaim control, and though Elon cut the margin to 22-21, the Camels held on for a 25-22 victory to take a 2-0 match lead.
• In the third set, Catherine Rucker recorded a kill to bring Elon within 5-4, but Campbell countered with a 6-1 run to push its lead to 11-6. The Phoenix called timeout but could not slow the Camels' momentum. Elon trailed 18-13 before Campbell finished the match with seven straight points for a 25-13 win and the sweep.

 
NOTES AND STATS

• The loss dropped Elon to 14-5 all-time against its in-state rival. The Phoenix remains in search of its first road win at Campbell, falling to 0-6 in Buies Creek.
• Brower tallied her third consecutive match with double-digit digs and her sixth of the season. The Greenwich, Connecticut, native also added two service aces.
• Clara Simmons, Berlekamp and Rucker shared the team lead with two blocks each.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon faces Campbell again on Saturday, with first serve set for 3 p.m.

 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Elon volleyball, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonVB) and Instagram (@ElonVB).