TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team hosted Elon on Saturday afternoon at SECU Arena with an 18-match winning streak on the line.
 
Elon (5-14, 3-5) won two tight sets to open the match before surrendering the next two to Towson (18-3, 9-1). The Tigers were unable to capitalize on their 11-5 lead in the fifth set and surrendered the frame 17-15 for their first loss this season since Aug. 29 vs. Fairfield.
 
Records:

• Towson – 18-3, 9-1 CAA
• Elon – 5-14, 3-5 CAA

 
Key Stats

• Despite the Tigers holding a hitting edge in the match, the Phoenix outhit the Tigers .333 to .120 in the deciding set.
• Elon stayed limited with just two errors in set five to Towson's six in the frame.

 
How it Happened

• Set one opened in a 4-4 tie before the Tigers ripped off four-straight points for an early 8-4 lead.
• The Phoenix scored eight of the next ten points to take the lead at 12-10.
• Towson answered that with scores on eight of the next nine points to reclaim the lead at 18-13.
• Elon pulled back within one with wins on five of the next six points to get to 19-18.
• After a TU side-out, the Phoenix scored four unanswered to retake the lead once more at 21-20.
• At 23 all, Carlsen's kill and ace delivered the 25-23 win for the Phoenix in set one.
• The teams traded short runs early in the second set, giving the Tigers a 10-9 lead.
• Elon won six of the following seven points to take a 15-11 lead in the frame.
• Another four-point run moments later pushed the Phoenix lead to 20-14.
• The Tigers strung together three straight points moments later to pull within three but were outlasted by Elon in the set, 25-21.
• With a one-point lead at 7-6, the Tigers scored three unanswered points, pushing the lead to four.
• Moments later, they pushed their 14-11 lead to a seven-point edge with two kills from Sarah Callender and one from Erin Brothers. Kaitlyn Moran bookended the run with an ace.
• With a five-point lead, the Tigers scored four of five points to win the set, 25-16.
• Two early runs of three and four points gave Towson a 10-6 lead in the third set.
• The Tigers retained that lead throughout the set, with two more runs of four points pushing the lead to as many as nine at 24-15.
• Malinah Purcell-Telefoni capped the set with a kill for the 25-16 win.
• After Elon opened set four with a 2-0 lead, the Tigers scored eight unanswered points to claim the lead.
• After a Phoenix side-out, the Black & gold scored eight of the next ten points to push the lead to 11 at 16-5.
• Elon got the deficit down to eight at 22-14 before kills from Addison Leber and Tshilanda Diouf (2) over the final four points of the set sent the match to a fifth set.
• The Tigers opened set five with a 4-1 lead before giving Elon three of the next four points to pull it within one.
• Towson followed that with a 6-1 run, extending the lead to 11-5.
• The Phoenix responded with four unanswered points and wins on six of the next seven to pull back within one at 12-11.
• The Tigers got their first set point at 14-12 and surrendered the next two to Elon to knot things up at 14 apiece.
• Towson sided out before Elon closed the set with three unanswered points to win 17-15.

 
Up Next
The Tigers go back on the road to face the Hampton Pirates next Thursday and Friday in Virginia. The matches are set for 6 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.