ELON, N.C. - The Seawolves bounced back from yesterday's road loss with a 3-1 comeback victory (20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-16) over Elon on Saturday.
Ella Sanders only needed one and a half sets to reach double-digit kills today as she went on to end the match with 17. Meanwhile, Ayanna Pierre Louis and Rayanne Wheat each set new career highs in aces today with five and four, respectively.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Despite an early offensive tear from Sanders, the team could not slow down Elon's attack as the team soon found itself in a 15-9 hole. A kill and a block from Avari Amstutz, plus the second ever kill for Zayda Fuertez would help the Seawolves score seven of the next 10 to cut the deficit down to 19-16, before another kill from Sanders and an Pierre Louis ace got them within one at 21-20. This was as close as it would get, though, as the Phoenix scored four straight to ultimately take the set.
SET 2 | Initially trailing 3-0 to open the set, Stony Brook would quickly tie it 8-8 as Sanders racked up two more kills while Amstutz picked up another kill and a block. The Seawolves would then take their first lead of the day after a 4-0 run made it 12-10. After the Phoenix briefly tied it at 13-13, Sanders fired off two kills and an ace to go along with a pair of blocks from Osibodu to grow the lead to five at 21-16 en route to winning the set.
SET 3 | Just like in the second, Stony Brook came right back out of an 0-2 start by firing off five straight points to go in front, before going up 8-3 on the third block of the frame from Osibodu. Stony Brook kept the pressure on throughout the set as Madison Cigna, Wheat, Taryn Su, and Pierre Louis each scored an ace, while the rookie Amstutz notched another three kills to blow the set wide open at 20-9, paving the way for another set win for Stony Brook.
SET 4 | Following a back-and-forth start to the fourth, Stony Brook emerged as the one to pull ahead first on a 4-0 run to make it 9-5. Pierre Louis would later pick up her fourth ace and the team's 10th to extend it to 12-7. A 6-0 run would then grow the lead to 21-13 as Wheat served up two more aces. Later, with match point in sight, Pierre Louis finished off the day with one final ace to give her five.
Notable Stats
- Sanders topped 600 career digs with her eight today, bringing her to 602/ She also increases her career kills to 783.
- Amstutz recorded her second career game with double-digit kills after ending the day with 12.
- Osibodu topped 150 career blocks with seven today, bringing her to 151 total.
- Likewise, Pierre Louis is closing in on 300 career blocks after picking up two more today to put her at 289.
- Stony Brook's 13 aces are a new season high and mark the third time this year the team had double-digit aces.
Up Next
Following their bye week, the Seawolves will be back in action at home on Friday, October 16 as they open a weekend series with Charleston at noon.
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