Elon University Athletics

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Elon University volleyball team fell to UNCW in straight sets, 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 29-27), on Friday evening at Hanover Hall.
 
The Phoenix moved to 9-12 overall and 6-5 in CAA play, while the Seahawks improved to 11-11 overall and 5-4 in conference action.
 
Cameron Lanier led the Maroon and Gold with 12 kills on 27 attacks while adding seven digs, two service aces and a solo block. Allie Schultz followed with nine kills on 14 swings for a .429 hitting percentage and added six digs. Schultz also served a career-high four aces, surpassing her previous career best of one.
 
Kayla Palmer added 13 assists, giving her 1,010 for her career after entering the match with 997. April Rice led the Phoenix with 14 assists and also added three kills.
 
For UNCW, Sam Vanda and Elaina Murphy each recorded nine kills, while Gaby Zovko added eight kills and 28 assists. Nadia Wasilewski finished with seven kills on 12 attacks for a .583 hitting percentage. Courtney Graham led the Seahawks with four service aces and five block assists.
 
THE RUNDOWN

• UNCW scored the first two points of the opening set and gradually built a 6-1 advantage before Elon began to chip away. The Phoenix used kills from Catherine Rucker, Anna Sewell and Caroline Berlekamp to trim the deficit to 8-7, but the Seahawks responded and carried a 15-9 lead into the media timeout. Elon later pulled within four at 17-13 following a Lanier kill and a UNCW attack error, but the Seahawks answered and stretched the margin to 21-15. Elon later pulled within four at 19-15 on a Schultz kill, but UNCW answered by scoring six of the final seven points to close out the 25-16 victory.
• Elon came out quickly in the second set, scoring the first four points behind two Lanier kills, a Schultz kill and a UNCW attack error. The Seahawks pulled within one at 5-4, but the Phoenix rebuilt its advantage and pushed the margin to 15-8 following a Lanier service ace. UNCW began to chip away after the media timeout and eventually erased a 19-16 deficit with a 6-1 run to take a 22-20 lead. Elon responded with consecutive points to pull within 23-22 and later fought off set point to make it 24-23, but a ball-handling error on the following point gave UNCW a 25-23 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
• UNCW built an early 5-1 lead in the third set before the Phoenix gradually worked its way back. Elon trailed 17-13 before Schultz took over from the service line, delivering four aces during a 6-0 run that gave the Phoenix a 19-17 advantage. The teams then traded points throughout the closing stretch, with neither side able to create separation. Lanier recorded kills to tie the frame at 20-all, 21-all, 24-all and 27-all, while Schultz added kills at 25-all and 26-all. With the score tied at 27, Elaina Murphy gave UNCW match point before the Seahawks closed the frame with a block for the 29-27 victory.

 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Schultz recorded a career-high four service aces, all coming during the third set. She entered the match with a career high of one ace and finished with nine kills, six digs and 13.5 points.
• Palmer surpassed 1,000 career assists, finishing the match with 13 to move her career total from 997 to 1,010. She entered Friday averaging 4.45 assists per set for her career.
• Lanier reached double-digit kills for the match with a team-high 12 and added two aces, seven digs and a solo block.
• Rucker added four kills while hitting .300. Berlekamp chipped in three kills and two block assists.
• The third set featured 11 ties and four lead changes before UNCW prevailed 29-27.

 
UP NEXT

• The Phoenix faces the Seahawks in the series finale Saturday at 2 p.m.

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