By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Elon won its sixth Coastal Athletic Association women’s cross country championship in seven years Friday in Lakewood, New Jersey.
Katie Blount was the individual champion while the Phoenix had a program-record seven runners among the top 15.
Blount ran the 6-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 55 seconds for more than a six-second margin on William & Mary’s Perry Irons (20:01.60). Blount is Elon’s first individual champion since 2021.
Teammates Abigail Bevelle (third, 20:29.80), Hannah Weber (fourth, 20:42.10) and Kate Buerger (eighth, 21:18.70) were also in the top 10.
Elon’s 20 points marked a major victory over runner-up William & Mary, which had 68.
Elon’s men were seventh in the 8K race, led by Nate Mars in 35th (25:02.4).
Women’s soccer
Elon will be in the CAA Tournament championship game for the first time since the pandemic-adjusted 2021 spring season after winning a pair of road games.
The Phoenix, aided by goalkeeper Katie Bisgrove’s career-high 12 saves, knocked off host UNC Wilmington in a penalty-kick shootout by 6-5 on Sunday afternoon in the semifinals. It marked Elon’s first victory in a shootout in 24 years – and that came in the Big South Conference Tournament.
There was no scoring in regulation and through 20 minutes of overtime. Isabel DiPrima, who didn’t play in regulation or overtime, notched the decisive penalty kick.
Elon (11-2-6) meets host Stony Brook (12-6-1) on Sunday afternoon for the tournament title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Last Thursday, Elon defeated host William & Mary 1-0 in the quarterfinals on Ashlee Brehio’s goal in the fifth minute. The Tribe finished 7-7-4.
Men’s soccer
Elon secured the CAA South Division title with Saturday night’s 1-0 victory against visiting William & Mary at Rudd Field. Jordin Wilson scored his first collegiate goal in the 72nd minute and Jackson Leavitt made five saves for his 10th shutout of the year.
The Phoenix (7-3-6 overall, 4-1-3 CAA) will be home Sunday in the CAA Tournament semifinals against the winner of Thursday night’s UNC Wilmington / Campbell game.
Volleyball
Elon was swept in CAA matches Friday and Saturday at Campbell (18-5, 10-2). The Phoenix (5-18, 3-9) plays its final home matches of the season at Schar Center on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon vs. UNC Wilmington (4-18, 3-9).
Women’s basketball
Jayda Angel’s basket with three seconds left in regulation forced overtime and Elon went on to a season-opening victory, defeating East Tennessee State 65-56 on Monday night at Johnson City, Tennessee.
Angel, a sophomore making her first collegiate start, finished with 16 points, with 13 of those after halftime. Tyana Walker had nine points and 11 rebounds as Elon overcame 4-for-23 shooting on 3-pointers.
The Phoenix visits No. 11 North Carolina, which won its opener 90-42 against visiting North Carolina Central on Monday, on Thursday night in Chapel Hill.
