Elkin's volleyball team was looking to rebound Tuesday night after a tough loss at Mount Airy on Monday.

But standing in the Elks' way was the undefeated East Surry Cardinals. While Elkin managed to take a game from their visitors from Pilot Mountain, East Surry took the match 3-1.

Elkin would jump out to a quick 10-5 lead early over the Cardinals, but East Surry would go on a 11-2 run on the Elks and take the first game 25-14. After being down for all of the second game, the Elkin senior leaders took charge and led the Elks back, eventually tying things up 20-20.

Elkin took advantage of several East Surry mistakes and squeaked out a 26-24 victory in game two.

The Elks would take a big lead in the fourth set, being up 19-6. But the Cardinals' skill showed up as they took advantage of several Elkin mistakes to go on a 15-1 charge. East Surry grabbed a 21-20 edge, but senior Alli Newman showed that the Elks were not ready to lay down as she would knock a Cardinal spike back where it came from for a point.

But the Elks ran out of bullets and the Cardinals took the game 25-23 to seal the match.

Elkin's record dropped to 2-9 overall, 2-9 in the Northwest 1A. The eighth loss came Monday against Mount Airy. The Elks were up 2-0 but lost the final three sets.

Still, Jane Hendrick's team has shown vast improvement. Elkin didn't win a match all of last year.

"I'm proud of the way the team played tonight," Hendrick said after the East Surry duel. "We really played better as a team tonight. We really bonded tonight, and these girls have a lot of heart and a never say die attitude."

Soccer SOUTH STOKES 4, ELKIN 3: The Elks, who lost to Class 2A Forbush 9-0 on Monday, absorbed a heartbreaker on Tuesday at home.

Aiden McRitchie, Ilhui Lozado and Justin Singh would all have goals for the Elks, but the Sauras would prove to be the better team on this night after taking the lead shortly before halftime in what turned out to be a very physical matchup in sloppy conditions at Grissom Stadium. The Elks had several opportunities late in the game, but could not capitalize.

"Congradulations to South Stokes on a big win. They played hard and with desire," Elks assistant Ralph Beshears said after the game. "We played well at times, but South took advantage of their opportunities. To be so youthful this team has improved a great deal."

The Elks drop to 5-2-1 in the Northwest 1A and 6-4-1 overall, and will take on Bishop McGuinness this Thursday at home.