For video of coach Patrick Nicholas' comments on the win over Elon, click here.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Karrian Chambers and Ariel Newman each had 21 kills for UNCG and both had double-digit digs as UNCG defeated conference rival Elon, 3-2 (25-21, 25-19, 18-25, 18-25, 15-7), on Friday night in Fleming Gymnasium.
The match was the Southern Conference opener for both squads. UNCG improved to an even 8-8 overall and 1-0 in the league, while the Phoenix dropped to 11-5 and 0-1 in the SoCon.
With the two teams tied at two through four sets, the rivals settled in for a fifth and final set. The Spartans came out and took a 5-2 lead in the final set to force an Elon timeout. The Phoenix would come back to cut the deficit down to 7-5, but the Spartans used a 4-0 run en route to winning the set, 15-7.
In addition to her 21 kills, Newman had just one error to record an amazing .465 hitting percentage. She also had 15 digs for a double-double. Chambers recorded 11 digs of her own for a double-double. Ari Lysacek also had a double-double for the Spartans with 51 assists and 13 digs. Kellie Orewiler had a match-high 24 digs, as well.
The Phoenix were led by Chanelle Smith who had 17 kills and 12 digs for Elon's lone double-double. Ali Deatsch recorded a team-high 17 digs in the losing effort, while Megan McMahon chipped in 44 assists.
In the opening set, UNCG came out of the gates with energy as it took a 4-1 lead thanks to a pair of kills from Newman. The Phoenix would close the Spartan lead down to 11-10 later in the set before UNCG rattled off four points in a row to take a five-point lead.
Elon would once again mount a rally to pull within 21-20 and force a Spartan timeout. After the timeout, UNCG won four of the next five points to take the first set, 25-21.
UNCG built upon that momentum at the beginning of the second set as the Spartans jumped out to a 14-5 lead to force Elon to use its second and final timeout. The Spartans would extend their lead out to 20-9 before Elon began to mount a rally.
The Phoenix cut UNCG's lead down to 22-17 on a block, but UNCG was able to hang on and win the set, 25-19, to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.
Coming out of intermission, Elon took control of the match and opened up a 10-6 lead early in the set. The Spartans would pull within 20-16 late in the set, but the Phoenix won five of the final seven points to win the set, 25-18.
Elon continued to control the match in the fourth set as it went ahead 11-5 early on in the set. The Phoenix would go on to lead by as many as nine late in set before winning the set, 25-18.
The Spartans will travel to Charleston, S.C. on Sunday to face The Citadel at 2 p.m.
AGATE
UNCG def. Elon 25-21, 25-19, 18-25, 18-25, 15-7
ELON (11-5, 0-1 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Chanelle Smith 17-1-1; Allison Johnson 11-1-2; Traci Stewart 9-0-0; Caroline Lemke 9-0-4; Celia Eddy 7-0-0; Kris Harris 3-0-0; Danielle Smith 2-0-1; Carly Ledbetter 0-1-0; Megan McMahon 0-0-1; Ali Deatsch 0-2-0; Totals 58-5-5.0. (Assists) - Megan McMahon 44. (Dig leaders) - Ali Deatsch 17; Chanelle Smith 12; Traci Stewart 10
UNCG (8-8, 1-0 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 21-0-0; Karrian Chambers 21-1-0; Holland Hoefnagel 10-1-3; Morgan Freeman 7-2-1; Ari Lysacek 7-1-0; Vicky Harley 4-0-4; Totals 70-5-5.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 51. (Dig leaders) - Kellie Orewiler 24; Ariel Newman 15; Ari Lysacek 13; Karrian Chambers 11; Holland Hoefnagel 9
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Sep 23, 2011 Attend: 542 Time: 2:16
- UNCG -
