Women's Volleyball 9/16/2015 10:59:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

Volleyball Downs Elon 3-1 For Seventh-Straight Victory

Box Score ELON, N.C. – UNCG won its seventh-straight match Wednesday night as the Spartans bested Elon 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21) on the road inside Alumni Gym. The Blue and Gold extends its best start to a season in 20 years improving to 10-2 overall while Elon falls to 3-10.

The Spartans won their fourth-straight decision over the Phoenix including both matches since Elon left the Southern Conference to join the CAA. Speaking of non-conference opponents, UNCG has already well assured itself of a winning non-league record for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Additionally, in winning the first set, the Spartans improved to 26-1 under head coach Corey Carlin when taking the first stanza.

Reigning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week Ashley Muench delivered again Wednesday with a match-high 16 kills and a .269 hitting percentage. She added eight digs and three block assists for good measure. Junior outside hitter Jessica Brezwyn followed with 10 kills and 15 digs for her team-high third double-double of the season. Freshman setter Allison Penner also turned in her third double-double to the tune of 44 assists and 12 digs. Rounding out the defensive efforts was senior libero Katherine Santiago who finished with 16 digs of her own.

UNCG hit over .200 for the seventh consecutive match ending up at .217 off of 52 kills on 157 attempts. The Phoenix were all over the place offensively as they made 34 attacking errors to hit just .098. The Spartans also held the upper hand in digs (79-74) and total blocks (8.0 to 7.0) while Elon recorded more aces (3-1)

The Blue and Gold got off to a cold start in the first frame and took a timeout when the Phoenix established an 11-7 lead. The Elon cushion grew to five after an Ebony Scott kill but UNCG found its legs and scored four straight to force a Phoenix timeout. A bevy of Elon attacking errors turned the Spartans' deficit into an 18-13 advantage. The Phoenix called timeout at that point but it was too late as UNCG rolled to the 25-17 set victory to take an early match lead.

The Spartans got off to a better start in the second stanza leading 6-2 after an Elon service error. However, the Phoenix answered with a 9-4 run and went in front 11-10. After a UNCG timeout, the Spartans rallied to tie the score at 15 following another Elon attacking error but the home team scored three straight and kept the Blue and Gold at an arm's length the rest of the way. The Phoenix outlasted UNCG 25-21 to tie the match heading into intermission.

The teams traded the lead early and often in set three but Elon pushed ahead 12-9 and prompted a Spartan timeout. The Phoenix built on the lead and found themselves in front 17-13 but UNCG went on a 6-2 run capped by an Elon attacking error that deadlocked the score at 19. The Phoenix enjoyed one last lead at 21-20 but three Spartan kills and a pair of Elon attacking errors allowed UNCG to end the frame on a 5-0 run to take it 25-21.

The Phoenix rung up a sizable lead in the fourth stanza at 9-4 but as they had all evening, the Spartans answered and knotted the score at 13 after an Elon attacking error. The adversaries battled to a tie at 20 points apiece before UNCG asserted its will. A service error by Terry Kam afforded the Spartans a 21-20 edge and that would be enough for the Blue and Gold who took the fourth set 25-21 and clinched the match.

UNCG wraps up non-conference play this weekend with its longest road trip of the season to Waco, Texas for the Baylor Invitational. The Spartans will face off against Rice, Baylor and Stephen F. Austin during the two-day event scheduled for Sept. 18-19.

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