BOONE, N.C.- Senior Maja Jechorek scored four of ASU's final points in fifth set action and led Appalachian State University volleyball to a thrilling 3-2 victory over SoCon North Division foe Elon Saturday evening at the Holmes Center. With the win, ASU clinches the number two spot in the North Division and qualifies for the 2009 Southern Conference Tournament, making its first appearance at the SoCon tournament since 2007. Appalachian also improves to 14-16 on the season and 10-6 in league play, while Elon falls to 23-7 overall and 9-6 in conference action.

Sophomore Maggie Seeds came out unstoppable in fifth set play, scoring five of ASU's first seven points with senior Becca Norris chipping in as well to help the Mountianeers notch a 10-8 lead. Jechorek did not want her senior season to end, as she tallied three kills and a solo block, helping the Apps clinch the win.

In first set action, the set was tied for the final time at the six all mark before Appalachian dominated the Phoenix. Four kills by Jechorek and an added one by Lauren Swecker pushed ASU's advantage to 12-9.

Elon would come within as close as two points off an Emily Regan kill, but the Phoenix would be no match for the impressive Appalachian offense, as freshman Meghann Forshey, Norris, Kelly Rhein and Jechorek all enabled the Black and Gold to take the 23-17 lead.

A final Kelly Rhein kill and a Megan McMahon setting error gave the Mountaineers the 25-19 first set victory.

Rhein finished the night tied for a match-high 17 kills, just two off her career-high, along with posting eight digs and two block assists.

In a tale of two teams, the second set would not finish in ASU's favor, as Elon came out on fire early on. The Phoenix jumped out to a 17-9 lead thanks in part to strong play by Jessica Barrow, Caroline Lemke and three straight Appalachian hitting errrors.

The set did not get any better for the Black and Gold as hitting errors proved to be the achilles heel, as three in the waning points of play gave Elon a 25-15 second set victory, tying the match at one all.

Opposite the second set, four errors by Elon proved to be costly in third set action as the Apps took a 7-2 advantage. Elon however would answer, posting a 5-1 streak to comeback and tie the set at eight all.

The set would be tied on three more occassions but a Lizzie West serving error gave the Mountaineers a spark as they would never relinquish their lead the rest of the set.

Kills by Maggie Seeds and Norris and two straight Elon errors pushed the Apps lead to five points at the 20-15 mark. Despite the Phoenix trying to rally, an Elon hitting error and a block assist by Seeds and Caroline Sedon earned ASU the 25-19 third set win.

The fourth set saw 18 ties and eight lead changes in a hotly contested battle.

It appeared ASU was starting to pull away from Elon going up 13-11 off another Seeds and Sedon block assist and Elon hitting error, but the Phoenix would not go away quietly.

Appalachian would continue its strong play, grabbing a two point lead at 22-20 off a Jechorek kill and another Elon hitting error, but a Lemke kill and Appalachian hitting error knotted the set once more.

ASU was at set and match point up 24-23, but a Black and Gold serving error let Elon creep back into the set and tie it at 24 all. A Sarah Schermerhorn and Regan block assist earned Elon the 28-27 advantage and a final Schermerhorn kill gave the Phoenix a fourth set win at 29-27.

With three seniors on its roster, Appalachian did not want its season to end, and strong fifth set play gave the Apps the heart-stopping 3-2 win.

Four Mountaineers finished the contest with double-figure kills with Jechorek and Rhein leading the way, each tallying 17. Sophomore Maggie Seeds and senior Becca Norris came up huge for ASU offensively as well, as Seeds had 13 kills hitting a stout .400 and Norris recorded 11, tying a career-high.

Kasey Sauls had yet another solid performance, posting 52 assists, while senior Cassie Engelgau anchored Appalachian's defense, tallying a season-high 32 digs to go along with eight assists.

Appalachian capped off its 2009 regular season on a strong note, as the Apps went 9-3 in the Holmes Center, including a 7-1 SoCon mark, with their lone conference loss in the High Country coming to Furman in a 3-2 defeat. The 7-1 mark is quite impressive considering ASU went 1-8 against its SoCon opponents a season-ago and it is the best mark against league foes since 2004 when the Black and Gold also posted a 7-1 record.

The Apps, winners of three straight matches, including five of their last six, look to carry their momentum into the 2009 Southern Conference Tournament, as they take on number one seed and host Furman, Saturday November 21 at Noon. Furman won the 2008 SoCon tournament championship and went undefeated during 2009 in regular-season conference play, going 14-0 on the season.

Stay logged on to GoASU.com for complete 2009 SoCon Tournament volleyball coverage.