ELON, N.C. – Elon head volleyball coach Mary Tendler has announced the team’s schedule for the upcoming 2011 season. The Phoenix will look to defend its 2010 Southern Conference North Division Title with several intriguing matchups, including the expected conference slate, as well as tournaments at South Carolina and Butler.

“This season will present new and exciting challenges for our team,” said Tendler. “It will be the first time we try to defend the North Division Title. I have seen lots of progress by our returners and incoming freshman. Elon fans definitely have something to look forward to this fall.”

For the third straight season, the Phoenix will open up the season in Durham, N.C., at the Hilton RTP/NCCU Tournament on August 26-27. Elon will face Florida Gulf Coast on August 26 and take on both NCCU and Campbell the next day.

Phoenix fans will get their first look at the 2011 team when Elon plays its home opener against Radford in Alumni Gym on August 30. 

September starts with the Phoenix traveling a few hours south to Columbia, S.C., for a tournament hosted by South Carolina. The maroon and gold will play UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb on September 2, while taking on the host Gamecocks on September 3. 

The next stop for Elon will be Indianapolis, September 9-10, for a tournament hosted by the Butler Bulldogs. The Phoenix will face the Bulldogs on September 9 and play against Central Michigan and Austin Peay the following day. The lengthy away stand wraps up with a match at High Point on September 13.

The Phoenix will host the annual Elon Phoenix Classic on September 16-17 in Alumni Gym. Campbell will be Elon’s first opponent of the tournament on September 16. The Phoenix and the Lady Eagles of NCCU will meet for the second time of the season on September 17, followed by a match against Winthrop.

SoCon play begins on September 23 for the Phoenix with a match at rival UNCG in Greensboro, N.C. The weekend ends with a trip to Charleston, S.C., to play the defending SoCon South Division Champions College of Charleston on September 25.

Elon’s first home league matches will be against Western Carolina and Appalachian State. The Catamounts will visit Alumni Gym on September 30, while the always-exciting match against the Mountaineers will start off the month of October.

A string of three away matches begins at Samford on October 8 in Birmingham, Ala. The Phoenix faces the Lady Mocs of Chattanooga on October 9 and play in nearby Greensboro against North Carolina A&T on October 12.

On October 15, the Davidson Wildcats and the Phoenix will face off in Alumni Gym, while defending conference tournament champion Georgia Southern will play Elon on October 16.

Four straight road games will end the month of October for the Phoenix. Elon will travel to Spartanburg, S.C., for a match against the Terriers of Wofford on October 21 and then to Greenville, S.C., on October 22 to take on Furman. The last regular-season road trip begins with a match at Western Carolina on October 29 and an October 30^th match in Boone, N.C., against Appalachian State.

Elon closes the regular season with a four-match home stand, starting with Samford on November 4, followed by a match with Chattanooga the next day. Elon will host UNCG on November 11 and close the regular season on November 13 against The Citadel. 

“The thing I like the most about our schedule is that we end the season at home with three division opponents in our last four matches,” commented Tendler. “If it is anything like the past two seasons, it will be a very critical time for us. I’m glad we will be home in Alumni Gym and hope to have a lot of people on hand to support us as we push to finish strong.”

Samford will host the 2011 Southern Conference Volleyball Tournament on November 18-20 in Birmingham. 

-- ELON --