Phoenix Top Eagles for Conference Win
10/17/2009 8:48:00 PM | Volleyball
ELON, N.C. – Bethany Sanford notched her 12th double-double of the season and 28th overall, but could not lead the Georgia Southern volleyball team past the Elon Phoenix Saturday afternoon (October 17) in Alumni Gym. Elon snapped a five-match win streak held by Georgia Southern with a 3-1 Southern Conference win. The Phoenix, who are now 7-1 on their home court, improved to 16-4 and 4-3 in Southern Conference play, while the Eagles dropped to 15-7, 5-2.
The Eagles picked up the first set, but the Phoenix would rally to take the next three, securing the conference win. In the opening set, Elon matched a 4-0 run to bring the set to within one point, 7-6 Georgia Southern. The Phoenix tied the stanza at 8-all off an Eagle error, but Georgia Southern maintained control and pulled away with a five-point lead at 20-15. The Eagles closed out the opening stanza, 25-19, with a kill by Moriah Bellissimo (Blackstone, Va.).
The Phoenix came out firing in the second set, gaining an early 3-0 lead before Georgia Southern responded at 6-3 with a 5-0 run to gain control, 9-6. Three unanswered from Elon tied the set at nine apiece as the Phoenix took the final lead with a 5-0 run culminating in a 15-11 margin. Georgia Southern pulled to within two points at 18-16, but the Phoenix closed out the stanza with a 7-2 run, 25-19.
Georgia Southern battled in the third set, a set that witnessed eight ties and four lead changes. Down 13-9, the Eagles put together five unanswered points for a one point lead at 14-13. Elon tied the set quickly at 14-all, as the Eagles held the lead to a 20-all standstill. The Phoenix would take the lead off a Traci Stewart kill and close out the set at 25-23 with a Sarah Schermerhorn kill.
Elon used the momentum from a third set win to dominate the fourth and final set. The Phoenix quickly gained a 10-4 lead and led by seven at 18-11. Georgia Southern took a timeout at 20-11 as Elon secured the conference win with a 25-15 fourth set win. Elon hit a team-best .333 from the floor in the fourth set.
For the match, the Phoenix hit .214 to Georgia Southern's .202. The Eagles were led by Sanford (Avondale, Ariz.) with 14 kills and 13 digs. Parker Small (Charlotte, N.C.) also hit double-digits in kills with 11. Freshman setter Kate Van Dyke (Shawnee, Kan.) posted a match-high 39 assists, while lone senior Cristin Haines (Palos Heights, Ill.) recorded 14 digs.
Each posting 11 digs, Elon was paced by Stewart and Schermerhorn. Emily Regan tallied 23 assists for the Phoenix as Lizzie West led the defense with 14 digs. Ali Deatsch followed West adding 13 digs.
Georgia Southern wraps up this two-match road swing Sunday afternoon at UNC Greensboro. Match time is slated for 2 p.m.
The Eagles picked up the first set, but the Phoenix would rally to take the next three, securing the conference win. In the opening set, Elon matched a 4-0 run to bring the set to within one point, 7-6 Georgia Southern. The Phoenix tied the stanza at 8-all off an Eagle error, but Georgia Southern maintained control and pulled away with a five-point lead at 20-15. The Eagles closed out the opening stanza, 25-19, with a kill by Moriah Bellissimo (Blackstone, Va.).
The Phoenix came out firing in the second set, gaining an early 3-0 lead before Georgia Southern responded at 6-3 with a 5-0 run to gain control, 9-6. Three unanswered from Elon tied the set at nine apiece as the Phoenix took the final lead with a 5-0 run culminating in a 15-11 margin. Georgia Southern pulled to within two points at 18-16, but the Phoenix closed out the stanza with a 7-2 run, 25-19.
Georgia Southern battled in the third set, a set that witnessed eight ties and four lead changes. Down 13-9, the Eagles put together five unanswered points for a one point lead at 14-13. Elon tied the set quickly at 14-all, as the Eagles held the lead to a 20-all standstill. The Phoenix would take the lead off a Traci Stewart kill and close out the set at 25-23 with a Sarah Schermerhorn kill.
Elon used the momentum from a third set win to dominate the fourth and final set. The Phoenix quickly gained a 10-4 lead and led by seven at 18-11. Georgia Southern took a timeout at 20-11 as Elon secured the conference win with a 25-15 fourth set win. Elon hit a team-best .333 from the floor in the fourth set.
For the match, the Phoenix hit .214 to Georgia Southern's .202. The Eagles were led by Sanford (Avondale, Ariz.) with 14 kills and 13 digs. Parker Small (Charlotte, N.C.) also hit double-digits in kills with 11. Freshman setter Kate Van Dyke (Shawnee, Kan.) posted a match-high 39 assists, while lone senior Cristin Haines (Palos Heights, Ill.) recorded 14 digs.
Each posting 11 digs, Elon was paced by Stewart and Schermerhorn. Emily Regan tallied 23 assists for the Phoenix as Lizzie West led the defense with 14 digs. Ali Deatsch followed West adding 13 digs.
Georgia Southern wraps up this two-match road swing Sunday afternoon at UNC Greensboro. Match time is slated for 2 p.m.
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