NORFOLK, Va. – The Elon volleyball team split its final day at the Quest for the Crown Tournament on Saturday, dropping a 3-1 decision to Norfolk State before claiming a 3-1 victory over host Old Dominion at the ODU Volleyball Center.
Elon's
Cameron Lanier led the Phoenix (1-2) with 27 total kills in the two matches, averaging 3.38 kills per set. The Chapel Hill native recorded 15 kills in the Phoenix's win over the Monarchs, while
Anna Sewell added 11. Sewell finished the day with 20 kills and a .308 attack percentage.
Caroline Berlekamp led the Phoenix defense with 11 total blocks, while
Casey Brower recorded 17 digs. Berlekamp also added 13 kills between the two matches, while
Catherine Rucker finished with 12 and a .550 attack percentage.
Kayla Palmer directed the Phoenix offense with a team-best 41 assists in the two matches Saturday, while
April Rice contributed 34. Palmer and
Shannon O'Laughlin tied for the team lead with five service aces.
THE RUNDOWN (Norfolk State)
- The Phoenix fell behind early in the opening set, 6-2, before going on a 3-0 run to pull within one, 6-5, following a Lanier kill. The Spartans responded with a 4-0 spurt to extend their lead to 10-5. NSU pushed its advantage to 14-8 before the Phoenix answered with a 4-0 run, aided by a pair of Ellie Hunt kills, to trim the deficit to two, 14-12. Norfolk State withstood the Phoenix rally and eventually took a 22-18 advantage, but a 5-2 Elon run brought the Maroon and Gold within one, 24-23. The Spartans escaped the frame on the ensuing point, using a kill to secure a 25-23 set victory.
- Elon fell behind early, 5-2, to begin the second set and faced a 13-10 deficit following an NSU service ace. The Phoenix rallied with a 4-1 run to tie the set at 14-all, but the Spartans countered with a 4-0 spurt to regain an 18-14 advantage. Elon fought back to pull within one, 18-17, behind a pair of Palmer service aces. Norfolk State pushed its lead back to four, 21-17, forcing a Phoenix timeout. The break gave the Maroon and Gold some momentum as Elon responded with a 5-1 run to make it a one-point contest, 23-22, prompting an NSU timeout. The Phoenix tied the set at 24-all before Norfolk State earned the first set-point opportunity following an Elon service error. Elon continued to battle, leveling the score again at 26-all before a Spartans service error gave the Phoenix its first set point. Rucker and Lanier then combined on a block to secure a 28-26 victory and even the match.
- The Phoenix held an 8-5 lead early in the third set with Berlekamp accounting for three points on a pair of kills and a solo block. The Spartans erased the advantage with an 8-1 run, forcing Elon to call a timeout. The Phoenix battled back to cut its deficit to one, 17-16, after Berlekamp and Sewell combined on a block. NSU pushed its lead to 19-16, but a 4-0 run highlighted by a Sewell kill and a pair of service aces gave Elon a 20-19 advantage and forced a Spartans timeout. Norfolk State regained control after the break, scoring four straight points to take a 23-20 lead. The Phoenix fought back to tie the set at 26-all and twice earned set point on a pair of Berlekamp kills, with the latter giving Elon a 28-27 advantage. The Spartans, however, reeled off the final three points to steal the third set, 30-28.
- In the fourth set, Elon trailed by one, 6-5, following a Lanier kill, but the Spartans responded with a 6-1 run to build a 12-6 advantage. NSU continued to pull away, using a 5-0 run to extend its lead to 22-10. The Phoenix scored four of the next six points to trim the deficit to 24-14, but Norfolk State closed out the set on the ensuing point for a 25-14 victory to secure the match.
THE RUNDOWN (Old Dominion)
- In its second match of the day, the Phoenix started strong against the Monarchs. Elon erased an early 3-1 deficit with a 13-1 run to take a commanding 14-4 advantage. A Lanier kill later maintained the Phoenix's 10-point margin, 18-8. After Elon pushed its lead to 19-9, ODU responded with three straight points to cut the deficit to seven, but another Lanier kill gave the Phoenix a 20-12 advantage. The Monarchs pulled within seven, 21-14, before Elon closed the opening frame with four straight points to secure a 25-14 victory.
- The Phoenix and Monarchs were tied at 7-all following an Sewell kill early in the second set. Old Dominion responded with a 3-0 run to take a 10-7 lead and force an Elon timeout. The Monarchs eventually stretched their advantage to seven, 19-12, before the Phoenix answered with a 3-1 run to pull within five, 20-15. ODU responded with three straight points to extend its lead to 23-15 before closing out the frame, 25-18, to even the match at one set apiece.
- Old Dominion took a 12-8 lead early in the third set, but Elon tied the frame at 13-all with a 5-1 run. The Monarchs briefly regained a 14-13 advantage before the Phoenix reeled off four straight points to take a 17-14 lead and force a timeout by the hosts. ODU pulled within one, 17-16, but Elon responded with a 5-1 run to give itself a five-point cushion, 22-17. The Phoenix earned set point, 24-19, following an Allie Schultz kill before eventually securing a 25-21 victory.
- Elon trailed 4-1 to start the fourth set, but a 5-0 run gave the Maroon and Gold a 6-4 lead. An attack error put ODU ahead 10-9, but the Phoenix scored five of the next six points to take a 14-11 advantage. The Monarchs answered with a 4-0 run to take a 15-14 lead entering the media timeout. After ODU scored the first point out of the break, the Phoenix swung the momentum back in its favor with a 6-1 run to take a 20-17 lead. Old Dominion answered with three straight points to tie the set at 20-all, prompting an Elon timeout. After regrouping, the Phoenix responded with a 4-1 run to earn set and match point before clinching the victory, 25-22.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix continues its road swing on Tuesday, traveling to UNC Asheville for an in-state matchup. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+ or the ESPN app.
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-- ELON --
