ELON, N.C. – Trailing by two sets to start the match, the Gardner-Webb University volleyball team stormed back to knot the contest at 2-all, but the furious rally fell just short as the Runnin' Bulldogs dropped a five-set heartbreaker at Elon on Tuesday evening.

The Phoenix came out of the gates strong, taking the first two sets of the match by identical scores of 25-20.
 
However, the tide changed beginning with the third set as Gardner-Webb started to fire on all cylinders. After the two teams exchanged the initial 18 points, the Runnin' Bulldogs ripped off three in a row to take a 12-9 advantage. Elon battled back to a 22-all tie, but GWU wouldn't be denied, taking set three 25-23.
 
In a pivotal fourth set, a kill by Cayton White pushed the Runnin' Bulldogs ahead 13-9 midway through a highly contested frame. The Phoenix looked poised to run away with the set after a 6-0 burst gave the home team a 17-14 lead. Back-to-back service aces from White allowed GWU to even the score at 17 before a crucial 3-0 mini run late in the set gave Gardner-Webb a 25-22 win while forcing a winner-take-all fifth set.
 
Elon quickly jumped ahead 7-2 in the final set and from that point never looked back, taking the frame 15-9 and the match, 3-2.
 
Gardner-Webb will return to the court on Friday, September 6, traveling to Boone, N.C. to take part in the Mountaineer Classic hosted by Appalachian State. The Runnin' Bulldogs will take on Kennesaw State at 1 p.m. before closing out day one with East Tennessee State at 4:30 p.m.