Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG Volleyball suffered a five-set loss (19-25, 21-25, 20-25, 22-25, 15-12) to the Elon Phoenix on Saturday night inside Fleming Gymnasium. The Spartan defense was on display as they accounted for 110 digs, led by Christina Gregory's (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart Academy) career-beset, 36.
After the tournament, Gregory was named to the Tussle in the Triad's all tournament team. This is the second such honor for Gregory, who was named to the Duke Invitational's all tournament team last weekend. Ronni Katarzynski (Winfield, Ill./West Chicago) recorded a career-best, picking up 17 digs. Anna Romaniszyn (Port Orange, Fla./Spruce Creek) also recorded 17 digs, while Ashley Muench (Hurdle Mills, N.C./Orange), set a new career-mark with 16 digs.
Muench led the Spartan offense, recording 19 kills. Jasmine Jones (Stafford, Va./Brook Point) racked up 14 kills, hitting at a .520 average on 25 attacks. Allison Penner (Aurora, Neb./Aurora) contributed 55 assists to go with 14 digs. The backline had its best match of 2016, recording a total of 110 digs, led by Gregory's 36.
In the first set, UNCG earned 17 kills, hitting at a .333 average. After being tied at 13, the Spartans went on a quick 4-0 run on kills from Jones and a service ace from Lauren Robeck (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North). It was back and forth for the rest of the match, with Elon trimming the lead to 18-16 on a kill from Ebony Scott. The Spartans closed the match scoring three of the last four points to take the first set 25-19.
The second set was back and forth, as the only separation came after both teams were tied at 20 points. Elon finished the set scoring four of the last five points to take the set 25-21. A pair of attack errors helped Elon before Sydel Curry earned two kills and Kam Terry finished the game off with a kill of her own.
The third set was a similar story, as each team racked up 15 points before Elon could make a run. After gaining a two-point edge,, Elon earned three points, aided by a pair of UNCG attack errors. Scott closed the match out for the Phoenix, earning a kill on set point.
Again, the fourth set was a back-and-forth affair, with five ties along the way. At 22 all, the Spartans were finally able to gain the room needed for the win. After an Elon attack error, back-to-back kills form Jessica Brezwyn (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South) proved to be the difference as the Spartans took the fourth set 25-22.
Elon was able to take the lead earlier in the fifth set than what had happened throughout in the evening, grabbing a 10-7 lead on back-to-back kills from Terry. Elon pushed the lead to four on a kill from Scott. The Spartans were able to trim the lead to two, at 14-12 after a kill from Robeck and a ball handling error from Curry. The Spartans were unable to dig out an attack from Scott as she earned her 18th kill of the night to put the match away.
UNCG Volleyball returns to action on Friday, Sept. 9th as the Spartans host the Radford Highlanders at 7:00 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.
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