ELON, N.C. --- Lexi Wierzbicki put down 15 kills and
Tynley Smeltzer recorded a match-high 25 digs as College of Charleston fell to Elon in a back-and-forth five-set battle on Sunday afternoon in CAA action.
The setback snaps College of Charleston's (10-13, 5-5 CAA) three-match winning streak and puts the Cougars in a tie with Elon (8-12, 5-5 CAA) for sixth in the league standings. Elon won the match by scores of 31-29, 24-26, 25-20, 21-25 and 15-10 holding Charleston to 59 kills, three service aces and a .168 hitting percentage. The Phoenix finished the match with 76 kills, 12 blocks and a .225 attacking clip.
QUICK SETS
Final Score: Elon 3, Charleston 2 (31-29, 24-26, 25-20, 21-25, 15-10)
Location: Elon, N.C. (Schar Arena)
Records: Charleston (10-13, 5-5 CAA), Elon (8-12, 5-5 CAA)
Critical Point
With Charleston holding a 7-4 advantage in the fifth set, Haylie Clark found a hole for the kill to spark the Phoenix on a 7-0 run that put Elon ahead, 11-7. The Phoenix would go on to win the set, 15-10, to seal the victory.
Key Cougars
- Wierzbicki paced the Cougars with 15 kills – five of them in the second set – and four blocks.
- Smeltzer set the tone for the defensive collecting a match-high 25 digs, including eight in the second set.
- Logan Pope put down 11 kills to finish the weekend with 22. She also added three blocks.
- Emma Appleman narrowly missed a double-double with 23 assists and nine digs.
- Gabi Bailey came close to a double-double of her own with nine kills, 13 digs, four blocks and three aces.
- Anna Smith chipped in 14 digs, eight kills and two blocks.
- Jasmin Goei dished out 26 assists and added seven digs.
Match Notes
- Sunday's setback marks the first time the Phoenix have defeated the Cougars on their home floor.
- Claire Campbell and Emma Falk each added five kills and four blocks.
- The Cougars combined for a .333 hitting percentage with 14 kills on 36 swings in set four.
- Sofie Vogel recorded four kills on seven swings in the fourth set.
- The team that recorded its 10th point first only won one set – Elon in the third – in the match.
Up Next
The Cougars will resume their road swing when they travel to Stony Brook, N.Y. next weekend for their first-ever meeting with CAA newcomer Stony Brook. First serve for Saturday's series opener is slated for 1:00 p.m.
