ELON, N.C. – Elon head volleyball coach Mary Tendler has announced the 2010 schedule that features 32 matches, including 16 Southern Conference contests and four weekend tournament appearances. The schedule is highlighted by a trip to California for a tournament at Sacramento State.
“With preseason practices, four tournaments and a total of 15 matches before we start SoCon play, we will be well prepared to battle against conference opponents,” Tendler commented.
The Phoenix opens its 2010 campaign by making the short trip to Durham, N.C. for the Hilton RTP/NCCU Tournament on August 27-28 to take on Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville, Charleston Southern and East Tennessee State.
Elon will kick off its home campaign on August 31 with a match against High Point at 7 p.m.
California natives Lauren Copenhagen and Megan McMahon will return to their home state on September 3-4 as the Phoenix battles tournament-host Sacramento State, Cal State Northridge and UT San Antonio during the Sacramento State Invitational.
“It will be nice to take a trip out to California and be closer to both Lauren and Megan’s families,” Tendler continued. “At the same time, we will play against some different teams and allow potential recruits from that area watch our team play.”
The team welcomes Liberty, Stetson and Northern Illinois to Alumni Gym on September 10-11 for the annual Elon Volleyball Classic before traveling to Charlotte, N.C. on September 14 for a contest against the Charlotte 49ers.
Elon wraps up tournament play September 17-18 when it travels to Wilmington, N.C. to take on UNC Wilmington, Campbell and NC State.
Southern Conference play begins September 25 when Elon hosts Samford before taking on Chattanooga in Alumni Gym on September 26. The Phoenix closes out its three-match home stretch against North Carolina A&T on September 29.
A pair of away matches at Appalachian State (October 2) and Western Carolina (October 3) precede home contests against UNC Greensboro on October 8 and Furman on October 9.
Elon will make its way to Davidson on October 16 before facing Georgia Southern the following day.
The Phoenix returns to the friendly confines of its home court on October 22 when it hosts The Citadel. Elon will then take on defending SoCon champion College of Charleston on October 23.
Elon begins a five-match road trip on October 26 when it plays at Radford at 7 p.m. The Phoenix will travel to Chattanooga (October 30), Samford (October 31) and UNC Greensboro (November 5) before wrapping up its road stretch against Wofford on November 6.
The regular-season will end with a pair of contests in Alumni Gym. Elon and Appalachian State will square off on November 12, prior to the regular-season finale against Western Carolina on November 13.
The Southern Conference Championship will return to an eight-team format for the 2010 season after the number of teams had been reduced to four in 2009 due to cost-cutting mesures.
Added Tendler, “Like in past years, I feel that every Southern Conference match will be very competitive. I’m glad our first and last conference weekends will be at home, as we enjoy playing in Alumni Gym and have had a lot of success on our home court. With the renovations this summer, I anticipate even more excitement.”
Last year, Elon had its best season since moving to the Division I ranks with a record of 23-8 that included a conference mark of 9-7. Caroline Lemke and Traci Stewart became the first Phoenix players to receive all-conference accolades since Emily Hayes in 2004. Ali Deatsch also garnered all-conference accolades after earning a spot on the all-freshmen team. The three all-league selections were the most ever for the volleyball team at the Division I level and the most since 1993. Lemke and Stewart were also named to the North Carolina All-State team, marking the first time in program history that the Phoenix volleyball team had representatives on the all-state team.
