Tournament Website
Live Video
Live Stats

ELON, N.C. – The No. 4 North seed Elon University (19-13, 7-9) volleyball team is set to take on No. 1 South seed College of Charleston (24-8, 14-2) in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1:30 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala.
 
Last Time Out
The Elon University volleyball team went into its two final regular-season matches in a must-win situation to make the Southern Conference Tournament. The Phoenix won a thrilling five-set match over UNCG last Friday to keep its tournament hopes alive. After the Spartans fell to College of Charleston on Saturday, Elon’s final match against The Citadel became a “win and you’re in” situation. The Phoenix took care of business with a sweep of the Bulldogs to earn a berth in the tournament.
 
Elon v. College of Charleston
The Cougars hold a 12-1 record over the Phoenix since the two teams first met in August of 1997. Earlier this season CofC defeated Elon, 3-0, in Charleston, S.C. The maroon and gold’s last win over the Cougars came in 2006 as the Phoenix claimed a 3-2 victory in Charleston.
 
Against the Tournament Field
Elon went 3-7 over the season against the other seven teams in the conference tournament. The Phoenix defeated No. 2 north seed Appalachian State, No. 3 north seed Western Carolina and No. 4 south seed Davidson. The wins over the Catamounts and Wildcats were both match sweeps, while the maroon and gold topped the Mountaineers 3-1.
 
Phoenix in the SoCon Tournament
This marks Elon’s sixth appearance in the Southern Conference Tournament since joining the conference in 2003. Last season, the maroon and gold won its first tournament game since a 2006 win over Wofford. The 2010 victory against Davidson, 3-0, advanced the Phoenix to the semifinals for the first time in program history. Elon is 2-6 all time in the tournament.
 
Weekly Honors
Elon volleyball earned a total of eight weekly player of the week awards from the Southern Conference during the 12 weeks of the regular season. Caroline Lemke, Chanelle Smith and Celia Rose Eddy all won offensive player of the week. Ali Deatsch and Kris Harris both won defensive player of the week, while Deatsch was one of only two players to receive the award twice this season. Smith and Harris were both also honored as freshman of the week during the season. Elon’s eight conference honors ranks second among the 12 teams with College of Charleston receiving nine weekly awards.
 
Record Setter
Ali Deatsch has inked her name at the top of two important Elon records lists this season. On Oct. 30 at Appalachian State, the libero set the new Elon Division I career record for digs. Going into the tournament, the Elmhurst, Ill., native has 1,424 career digs. Last week against UNCG, the junior recorded her 52nd ace of the season for the new Elon DI single season record. Deatsch, who has earned a total of 54 aces this season, ranks 18^th nationally and first in the SoCon in aces per set (0.47).
 
Head Coach Mary Tendler
Elon head coach Mary Tendler is in her ninth season with the Phoenix. She enters the tournament with a 153-141 career mark. Tendler was honored by the league coaches last year as the Southern Conference Coach of the Year.
 
The 1,000 Kills Club
On Aug. 30, in Elon’s home opener against Radford, Caroline Lemke recorded her 1,000th career kill. Lemke finished with a match-high 12 kills in the match against the Highlanders. The Carmel, Ind., native has earned 1,273 kills in her four seasons with the Phoenix. The senior leads the team in both kills (311) and kills per set (2.80).
Senior Traci Stewart is six kills away from reaching the 1,000 career kill plateau. The right side hitter currently has 994 career kills and averages 1.41 kills per set.
 
All-Freshmen
The Southern Conference announced its 2011 all-conference and individual award winners on Nov. 16. Elon freshmen Kris Harris and Chanelle Smith were both named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team. The Phoenix players were two of seven league players to earn all-freshman honors. Harris, one of two middle blockers on the all-freshman team, ranks seventh in the conference in hitting (.331) and is second on the team in blocks (0.85 blocks per set). An outside hitter, Smith is second on the team in kills (260) and kills per set (2.68). Both players have earned two weekly player of the week honors from the conference during the season.