BOONE – The Elon University volleyball team fell in straight sets to Appalachian State, 3-0 (22-25, 23-25, 20-25), on Tuesday night at the Holmes Convocation Center in Boone.
 
Cameron Lanier led the Phoenix (0-3) with 10 kills and a .240 hitting percentage. Clara Simmons added nine kills, while Shannon O'Laughlin (14 digs) and Simrin Carlsen (12 digs) recorded double-digit digs.
 
Appalachian State improved to 3-1 and had three players reach double figures in kills. Maya Winterhoff posted a match-high 14 kills, and Keionna Mackey added 12.
 
THE RUNDOWN

• The first set was tightly contested early, with Elon holding a 10-9 lead after an App State error. The Mountaineers responded with a 7-2 run to go up 16-12, but the Phoenix answered with a 5-0 run to retake the lead, 17-16. After a Lanier kill tied the score at 20-20, App State used a 4-0 run to pull away before holding off a late Phoenix rally for the 25-22 win.
• Elon jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set before App State tied it at 7-7. The Phoenix regained a 10-8 edge after a Catherine Rucker kill and maintained a two-point lead at 16-14 following a Carlsen kill. The Mountaineers countered with a 5-1 run to take a 19-17 advantage, but Elon tied it again at 20-20 on an O'Laughlin ace. App State went ahead 23-20, and although the Phoenix cut it to 23-22 on a Mountaineer attack error, the hosts held on for a 25-23 win and a 2-0 match lead.
• The third set was close early, with Elon tying it at 9-9 on a kill and two App State miscues. From there, Winterhoff and Mackey combined for kills and a block to push the Mountaineers ahead 15-13. The Phoenix closed to within 18-17, but App State finished with a 6-3 run to secure the sweep with a 25-20 victory.

 
NOTES & STATS

• Kyla Johnson was credited with three service aces in the game. The junior middle blocker had four kills overall in the match. Overall, the Phoenix had six service aces compared to two for the Mountaineers.
• April Rice led the Phoenix with 20 assists while O'Laughlin and Kayla Palmer added four assists each.
• Sophomore Catherine Rucker added four kills for the maroon and gold.

 
UP NEXT
Elon continues its road swing, traveling to the Wildcat Classic at Davidson on Sept. 5-6. The Phoenix opens the two-day tournament versus hosts Davidson on Friday at 7 p.m.
 
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