SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford volleyball team played its first home contest of the season Friday night in the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium, besting Elon in straight sets (25-14, 25-17, 25-17) in front of a lively crowd. The Terriers improve to 2-4 on the campaign as the Phoenix drop to 1-7.
"It was so great to see people just show up for our team, and to see other athletes and other teams show up for us," said
Chloe Smith of the crowd in the home opener. "It's just so much support that we love."
The Terrier attack was efficient with a .358 hitting clip as Wofford posed only nine errors with 43 kills in 95 attacks. Elon was held to a .107 clip with 20 errors on 112 attacks with just 32 kills. Wofford recorded seven more digs, 46-39, and the Terriers owned the service line with four aces while allowing just one. At the net, Wofford owned a 5-2 advantage in blocks.
"I think our block setup was a really big thing, but also our defense behind the block allowed me and other attackers to really hit," said
Bradley Brown of the offensive efficiency. "Us being on time is something that the coaches really push us to do, and once we do that we seams, and we can hit it."
Bradley Brown led the Terrier attack with 12 kills as she hit a match-best .579 with just a lone error in 19 swings.
Chloe Smith joined her in double figures with 10 kills, notching a double-double with 11 digs added on. It's her second in a row and the third of her career.
Natalie Arnold was just south of double-digits with seven kills.
Maddy Frazier dished 21 assists with
Taylor Pecht adding 16 as the duo fed the offense. Smith led the way on the service line with two aces for half of the Wofford total. Fraizer and Pecht each added one.
Laney Klika held down the back line with 16 digs. After Smith's 11, Pecht posted seven. At the net, Brown was the top blocker with three.
Annemarie Rakoski and Arnold each recorded two.
Elon won the opening point, but
Chloe Smith delivered a kill and ace back-to-back to push Wofford to its first lead. The set remained close early with Wofford ahead just 12-10, but an attack error led into a seven-point Terrier run that featured a block from
Annemarie Rakoski and
Natalie Arnold alongside kills by
Ella Coleman, Rakoski, Arnold, and Smith. Wofford led 19-10, and Elon could not fight back from there.
Maddy Frazier's ace led to a
Bradley Brown kill for set point, and despite two Phoenix points, Brown delivered the clinching kill for a 25-14 set one win.
Set two opened with much of the same: Elon claiming point one before the next three went to the Terriers, this time bookended by
Natalie Arnold kills. The teams jostled for position until the middle goings with a kill from
Annemarie Rakoski sparked a four-point swing for Wofford.
Bradley Brown posted a kill and block with Arnold, and
Chloe Smith's kills closed out the run with Wofford ahead 16-10. The Phoenix stayed on the Terriers' heels, pulling within 21-16, but Arnold's kill gave way to a Smith ace, and Rakoski's kill brough about set point. Elon won a point, but
Ella Coleman put home the set two winner at 25-17.
The momentum carried into the third stanza as
Bradley Brown opened it with a kill en route to an early 5-1 Terrier advantage. The early portion of the frame was again tight, as
Emily Normand's kill had Wofford up 10-7 before the Phoenix pulled within 10-9. Brown came through again, this time sparking a four-point swing. Brown followed her kill with a solo block before combing with
Anna Adcock on another denial. Adcock then closed the run with a kill of her own for a 14-9 Terrier lead. The teams traded blows from there with Elon remaining just a step behind the Terriers. Brown created set point with a kill at 24-16, and after an Elon score, Brown closed her remarkable offensive showing with the clincher at 25-17.
The Terriers return to action tomorrow afternoon with a drive down I-85 to Clemson. First serve in Jervey Gym is set for 4:00 p.m. against the Tigers. After an off day Sunday, Wofford then faces South Carolina in Columbia at 7:00 p.m. Monday night.
