Hampton

Next Match:

Hampton

9/19/2025 | 6:00 p.m.


Sep. 19 (Fri) / 6:00 p.m.


 Hampton

History

SPARTANBURG – The Elon University volleyball team fell 3-1 (14-25, 27-25, 17-25, 17-25) at USC Upstate on Saturday in its final match of the Clemson/Wofford Tournament.
 
The Phoenix (1-8) was led by Cameron Lanier with 10 kills. Clara Simmons and Catherine Rucker added eight kills apiece, while setter April Rice posted a double-double with 34 assists and a team-high 13 digs.
 
The Spartans (6-4) were paced by Kensley Haneline (13 kills) and Katia Nikolic (10 kills).
 
THE RUNDOWN

  • USC Upstate ran out to a 6-1 lead over the Phoenix and continued to lead by as much as seven, 15-8, by the media timeout. Elon battled with back-to-back kills from Lanier and Berlekamp to trim its deficit to 15-10, but the Spartans rallied with a 4-1 run and a 19-11 lead to force a Phoenix timeout. The Phoenix would get as close as six, 20-14, but USC Upstate went on a 5-0 run to close out the first set with the 25-14 win.

  • Elon scored the opening point of the second set, but fell behind 9-3 to the Spartans in the start of the second frame. USC Upstate took a 15-12 lead into the media timeout, but the break allowed the Phoenix to regroup with a 5-1 run to tie the match at 16-all behind kills from Simmons and Catherine Rucker. The match would be knotted again at 17-17, but USC Upstate answered with a 5-1 run of its own to take a 22-18 lead. Elon answered to bring the score to 23-21, but the Spartans got to match point off a kill. The Maroon and Gold would be undaunted, going on a 3-0 run to tie the match at 24-all. A service error put USC Upstate up 25-24, but that would be the final tally of the set as the Phoenix completed the comeback with Simmons and Rucker being the primary catalysts for the 27-25 win.

  • The Phoenix carried its momentum from the last set into the start of the third, taking a 4-0 lead over the Spartans. Elon held a 6-3 lead before USC Upstate responded to tie the game on a 4-1 run. Both teams would stay nearly even with each other with Elon pulling into one, 15-14, before a 6-0 spurt from the Spartans gave the Phoenix a 21-14 deficit. The Maroon and Gold would get as close as 21-17 before the Spartans scored the remaining points to take the 25-17 win and a 2-1 lead.

  • Elon fell behind 10-5 in the fourth set before a brief rally brought the Phoenix within three, 12-9. A 6-1 run by USC Upstate expanded the hosts lead to 18-10 with the Spartans staying in control for the rest of the set to take the 25-17 win with a 3-1 match result.

 
UP NEXT

  • Elon is back on its home floor, hosting Hampton in its CAA-opening matches on Friday, Saturday, Sept. 19-20, at Schar Center.

 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Elon volleyball, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonVB) and Instagram (@ElonVB).
 

— ELON —