The Elon University volleyball team dominated Appalachian State University tonight, defeating the Mountaineers 3-0.
The Phoenix lost a tough match on the road against Appalachian on Sept. 29, falling 1-3 in sets.
Elon head coach Mary Tendler said she stressed consistency to her team before tonight’s match.
“It was emotional match on the road with them last time so I wasn’t sure how we were going to come out tonight,” Tendler said. “We focused on executing tonight and we did a good job. They got a few runs tonight that hurt us, but every time we fought back. I was very pleased with their consistency and their energy tonight. App State is a very talented team so beating them 3-0 is a big deal.”
Senior middle blocker Celia Eddy, who finished with eight kills and four blocks, said the Appalachian State match-up has always been an emotional one.
“For as long as I’ve been here, App has been a really big rival, and it's been about home-court advantage,” she said. “We just wanted to regain focus and knowing that we were going to be at home and knowing it was a big game we just wanted to take it to them.”
Tonight’s match was also volleyball’s game in Elon’s Live Pink week in sports. The team sported pink crew socks and pink headbands and bows.
Tendler said Pink Week is always a big match for the players.
“They are motivated to fight hard and give it everything they have just like the breast cancer patients are fighting,” she said.
This game was especially important for freshman outside hitter Megan Gravley.
“My mom had breast cancer last year,” Gravley said. “I think it’s so cool that all the sports teams and the whole campus are coming together to support the cause. But it’s also great that we are just supporting awareness, and that I can be a part of it is just awesome.”
Eddy agreed that it is an important cause that the whole team supports each year during Live Pink week.
“It’s just really important to bring a lot of fans out and support breast cancer research because it’s something that could affect one of us someday, so the week is just supporting breast cancer research and trying to find a cure.”
The women’s volleyball team’s last home match of the regular season is tomorrow Saturday Oct. 27. It is also senior night for Eddy, defensive specialist Ali Deatsch, outside hitter Allison Johnson, outside hitter Carly Ledbetter and middle blocker Alli Nogi.
Tendler looks forward to a hard fought game.
“We always want to play hard and get a victory on senior night,” Tendler said. “I look forward to honoring the seniors because they have done a lot of great things here at Elon both on and off the court.”