Saturday, November 3
Davidson, N.C.
2:00
Davidson College
2
vs
3
Elon
Peele matched her career-high with 23 kills (photo by Brian Westerholt).
Big Efforts from Peele, Pierucci not Enough in Five-Game loss to Elon
11/3/2007 3:55:10 PM | Volleyball
Lauren Biggers -- Assistant SID
Box Score
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Despite 24 and 23 kills from outside hitters Katie Pierucci and Sarabeth Peele, respectively, the Davidson Wildcat volleyball team's comeback bid came up short in a five-game loss (30-28, 39-37, 22-30, 30-32, 15-9) to the Elon Phoenix on Saturday afternoon in SoCon volleyball action at Belk Arena.
Davidson drops to 10-18 overall and 5-10 in the league, while Elon moves to 16-13 overall and 10-5 in SoCon action.
Peele's 23 kills matched her career high from the 'Cats' 3-2 win over James Madison on Aug. 31. Pierucci reached the 20-kill plateau for the fifth time this season and posted her 15th double-double of the season with a team-leading 17 digs.
Junior middle blocker Kittery Neale also touched double-digits for the 'Cats with 17 kills to go along with four blocks. Freshman Hayley Lawson tallied a match-high 57 assists and also had 11 digs on the defensive end. Senior defensive specialist Courtney Cron (14) and senior libero Lindsey Woeste (14) also had double digits in digs.
Jessica Barrow led the attack at the net for the Phoenix with 21 kills, while Britany Westphal (15) and Lauren Copenhagen (12) also contributed on the offensive end. Natalie Moore had 54 assists, while Kelley Blakewood paced the defense with 24 digs.
Davidson jumped out to an 8-4 lead to start the match, forcing the Phoenix into an early timeout, but a 9-4 run put Elon back on top, 13-12, and forced Davidson into a timeout of their own. The Phoenix kept attacking and pulled away behind a four-point serve from Lizzie West to take an 18-13 lead and force the 'Cats into another quick timeout. Davidson again battled back, and a kill from Pierucci paired with an Elon error put the 'Cats within one, 28-27. Freshman middle blocker Jorden Benedict knotted the game at 28, but Emily Lucci got the next two points with a kill and an ace to lift Elon to the 30-28 win.
Game two was the game that could have been for the 'Cats, who took an 18-13 lead behind strong serving from Neale and freshman Anna Bradbury. But with the 'Cats nursing a tenative 23-18 lead, Natalie Moore fired off a five-point serve to put Elon within one, 24-23. From that point, the lead changed seven times and the score was knotted on 12 possessions. Both teams managed enough to survive, until with the score tied at 37, a Wildcat error coupled with an ace from Barrow finally delivered the 39-37 win to the Phoenix, who took a 2-0 lead in the match.
After the break, Davidson took control of game three from the start, turning an early 3-1 lead into a 16-12 edge. A four-point serve by Pierucci pushed Davidson's lead to 25-18, easily enough for the 30-22 win as Lawson punched home the winning point with a service ace.
The 'Cats again took control early in the fourth game, opening up a 13-8 spread behind a couple putaways from Lawson. With Davidson still leading 21-17, Blakewood and the Phoenix went on a 4-0 run to pull ahead, 22-21. No matter, as three kills from Pierucci helped the 'Cats reclaim the lead. Davidson would need extra time in the game, as a Wildcat error at a match-point opportunity gave the Phoenix new life, but three straight 'Cats' points delivered the 32-30 win to tie the match and force the decisive game.
Elon opened the fifth and final game with a 7-2 run and turned it into a commanding 11-4 lead before the 'Cats could get anything going. Davidson managed to make things interesting, as Cron served three straight points to narrow the gap, 12-9, and force the Phoenix into a timeout, but Westphal putaway the match-winner for the 15-9 win.
Davidson will return to action tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. against UNC Greensboro in SoCon volleyball action at Belk Arena.
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Despite 24 and 23 kills from outside hitters Katie Pierucci and Sarabeth Peele, respectively, the Davidson Wildcat volleyball team's comeback bid came up short in a five-game loss (30-28, 39-37, 22-30, 30-32, 15-9) to the Elon Phoenix on Saturday afternoon in SoCon volleyball action at Belk Arena.
Davidson drops to 10-18 overall and 5-10 in the league, while Elon moves to 16-13 overall and 10-5 in SoCon action.
Peele's 23 kills matched her career high from the 'Cats' 3-2 win over James Madison on Aug. 31. Pierucci reached the 20-kill plateau for the fifth time this season and posted her 15th double-double of the season with a team-leading 17 digs.
Junior middle blocker Kittery Neale also touched double-digits for the 'Cats with 17 kills to go along with four blocks. Freshman Hayley Lawson tallied a match-high 57 assists and also had 11 digs on the defensive end. Senior defensive specialist Courtney Cron (14) and senior libero Lindsey Woeste (14) also had double digits in digs.
Jessica Barrow led the attack at the net for the Phoenix with 21 kills, while Britany Westphal (15) and Lauren Copenhagen (12) also contributed on the offensive end. Natalie Moore had 54 assists, while Kelley Blakewood paced the defense with 24 digs.
Davidson jumped out to an 8-4 lead to start the match, forcing the Phoenix into an early timeout, but a 9-4 run put Elon back on top, 13-12, and forced Davidson into a timeout of their own. The Phoenix kept attacking and pulled away behind a four-point serve from Lizzie West to take an 18-13 lead and force the 'Cats into another quick timeout. Davidson again battled back, and a kill from Pierucci paired with an Elon error put the 'Cats within one, 28-27. Freshman middle blocker Jorden Benedict knotted the game at 28, but Emily Lucci got the next two points with a kill and an ace to lift Elon to the 30-28 win.
Game two was the game that could have been for the 'Cats, who took an 18-13 lead behind strong serving from Neale and freshman Anna Bradbury. But with the 'Cats nursing a tenative 23-18 lead, Natalie Moore fired off a five-point serve to put Elon within one, 24-23. From that point, the lead changed seven times and the score was knotted on 12 possessions. Both teams managed enough to survive, until with the score tied at 37, a Wildcat error coupled with an ace from Barrow finally delivered the 39-37 win to the Phoenix, who took a 2-0 lead in the match.
After the break, Davidson took control of game three from the start, turning an early 3-1 lead into a 16-12 edge. A four-point serve by Pierucci pushed Davidson's lead to 25-18, easily enough for the 30-22 win as Lawson punched home the winning point with a service ace.
The 'Cats again took control early in the fourth game, opening up a 13-8 spread behind a couple putaways from Lawson. With Davidson still leading 21-17, Blakewood and the Phoenix went on a 4-0 run to pull ahead, 22-21. No matter, as three kills from Pierucci helped the 'Cats reclaim the lead. Davidson would need extra time in the game, as a Wildcat error at a match-point opportunity gave the Phoenix new life, but three straight 'Cats' points delivered the 32-30 win to tie the match and force the decisive game.
Elon opened the fifth and final game with a 7-2 run and turned it into a commanding 11-4 lead before the 'Cats could get anything going. Davidson managed to make things interesting, as Cron served three straight points to narrow the gap, 12-9, and force the Phoenix into a timeout, but Westphal putaway the match-winner for the 15-9 win.
Davidson will return to action tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. against UNC Greensboro in SoCon volleyball action at Belk Arena.
WEEK 2: Coaches Corner with Head Coach Saj Thakkar presented by Atrium Health.
Tuesday, September 02
Davidson coach Saj Thakkar's inspiration
Friday, August 29
2025 Davidson Football -- GridIron Club Kickoff Call
Friday, August 29
FY26 WFH Virtual Event
Tuesday, August 26