Box Score Box Score
ELON, NC – Stephanie Palmer gets her second triple-double of the season as the Winthrop volleyball team captured the 2011 Elon Phoenix Classic Championship by taking down host Elon in four sets (25-14, 16-25, 25-22, 25-20) Saturday night at the Alumni Gym.
The win puts the Eagles at 7-5 on the season, as Elon falls to 11-4.
The sophomore setter Palmer finished the night with 10 kills, hit for .526, 13 digs and 35 assists to lead Winthrop to the four set victory. With the triple-double tonight, that was enough to earn her a spot on the Elon Phoenix All-Tournament Team. Palmer was second on the team with kills tonight as she was behind senior middle hitter
Becca Toor with 13. Her performance throughout the Elon Phoenix Classic earned her All-Tournament MVP. Junior outside hitter
Carolyn Weed finished the night with six kills as she also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Four Eagle players found themselves with double-digit digs as junior defensive specialist Kristin Curse led the team with 15. Following Cruse was Palmer's 13 and freshman libero
Catherine Brusie with 12. Freshman outside hitter
Lauren Landsman ended the night with 11. The Eagles totaled 51 kills, 65 digs, seven blocks and a .215 hitting percentage.
“This triple-double Stephanie can enjoy because it came with a win,” head coach Julie Torbett said.
The first set saw the Eagles take an early lead, including the largest lead coming at the 21-11 mark. Winthrop cruised to take the opening set, 25-14. As a squad, the Eagles finished the set with 12 kills and a .333 hitting percentage.
Elon came out in the second set in attacking mode as the Phoenix got three straight kills to start the set. Elon went on to capture the set, 25-16. The Phoenix finished the set with 15 kills and a .389 hitting percentage.
In the third set, the teams traded points throughout as the set saw a 22-22 deadlock. A kill from Palmer and two attacking errors by the Phoenix gave the Eagles the set, 25-22.
The final set saw the Eagles jump out to a quick 6-1 lead to start the set, forcing Elon to regroup. Winthrop never gave up its lead as the Eagles took the set and the match, 25-20. Toor finished the set with five kills.
“Becca returned to her dominant play,” Torbett said. “The team really came together.”
Elon finished the match with 45 kills as Kris Harris and Chanelle Smith each had 11.
“This was a nice win to bring us into the conference,” Torbett said. “With a tournament win and a great road win against a very good team.”
The Eagles will be back on the court on Friday, Sept. 23 when they start conference play at the Winthrop Coliseum against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. That match is set for 7 p.m.
