Sophomore Elyse Thompson anchored a strong defensive effort by the Emory volleyball team at the season-opening Wittenberg National Invitational.

The 5-foot-7 Thompson helped the Eagles to a 2-1 record, averaging a team-high 6.57 digs over 14 sets of play. She was the team leader in digs in all three matches, beginning with a 24-digs outing in a 3-1 decision over Johns Hopkins. She followed that performance by racking up a match-high 33 digs in a five-set clash against No. 11 Wittenberg. Her effort against the Tigers tied the third-highest individual mark in school history. She closed out the Invitational with a school-record tying 35 digs, while contributing six assists and three service aces, in a 3-2 come-from-behind decision over Illinois Wesleyan, a match where the Eagles dropped the first two sets.

Thompson and her teammates limited the three opponents to just a .185 hitting percentage.