SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its league awards today, Nov. 17, naming Elon head volleyball coach Mary Tendler the SoCon Coach of the Year. Senior Sarah Schermerhorn and junior Caroline Lemke were both named second-team all-conference. 

Tendler, now in her eighth season with Elon, led the Phoenix to its first ever SoCon North Division title after an 11-5 conference record (20-13 overall).

“I was very surprised to receive coach of the year honors,” said Tendler. “It means a lot to me that my peers felt that I was deserving of this honor. A lot of the credit needs to go to my assistant coaches and our players for all their hard work and sacrifices. It is definitely a team award.”

Schermerhorn, a native of Colfax, N.C., was just named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after her 12-block performance against Appalachian State and Western Carolina last weekend. The middle blocker averaged two blocks per set and recorded 19 kills in the two Phoenix sweeps.

Lemke, a middle blocker and outside hitter, leads the Phoenix in attacks, kills and blocks. The Carmel, Ind., native registered 11 kills and only one error for a .625 attack percentage in the team’s last match against Western Carolina. Lemke ranks in the top 10 in the conference in kills with 333 and averaging 2.78 kills per set. 

“Sarah and Caroline are both well deserving of receiving all-conference honors,” said Tendler. “ They both find ways to get kills even when there is a huge block against them. They also come up with big plays at crucial times. They have been solid for us all year and, along with the rest of the team, seem very determined to do well in the Southern Conference Tournament this weekend.”

Elon will play in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament as the No. 1 North seed against No. 4 South seed Davidson (16-17, 6-9) on Friday, Nov. 19. The match is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. in Boone, N.C.