Every Monday, Phoenix fans can get a look at the week ahead with our “This Week in Elon Athletics” feature when we will preview all the week’s upcoming events for our fall sports teams. “Follow us” on Twitter at @elonphoenix and @elonscores, “Like” Elon Phoenix on Facebook and continue to check elonphoenix.com to stay current on all things Elon Athletics.
Football (0-0)
Elon at Vanderbilt, Saturday, September 3 at 7:30 p.m. EST (CSS), Nashville, Tenn.
• The Phoenix will open the season against its fourth-ever FBS opponent and first-ever foe from the SEC.
• Elon is coming off of its fourth consecutive winning season, a first for the program since the 80s.
• Elon returns six starters on offense and five on defense. Among those back are All-Americans Aaron Mellette (WR) and Rodney Austin (OL).
• Head coach Jason Swepson announced that the team named four captains for the 2011 season – Austin, offensive lineman Ned Cuthbertson, linebacker Joshua Jones and defensive back Blake Thompson.
Men’s Soccer (0-0-1)
Elon vs. Coastal Carolina, Friday, Sept. 2 at 5 p.m., Richmond, Va.
Elon at Virginia Commonwealth, Sunday, Sept. 4 at 2:30 p.m., Richmond, Va.
• The men’s soccer team started 2011 in similar fashion to the 2010 season — with a double overtime contest. Elon played High Point to a 0-0 draw in front of a record crowd of 3,119 people on Saturday night.
• The Phoenix played eight overtime contests last season, including one against Coastal Carolina that resulted in a 2-2 tie. Coastal holds a 6-1-1 all-time advantage over Elon.
• This will be the first-ever meeting between Elon and the host VCU Rams.
Volleyball (4-0)
Elon vs. Radford, Tuesday, August 30 at 6 p.m., Alumni Gym
Elon vs. UNC Asheville, Friday, Sept. 2 at 9:30 a.m., Columbia, S.C.
Elon vs. Gardner-Webb, Friday, Sept. 2 at 5 p.m., Columbia, S.C.
Elon at South Carolina, Saturday, Sept. 3 at 12 p.m., Columbia, S.C.
• The Phoenix opened up the 2011 season with four wins at the Hilton RTP/NCCU Tournament over the weekend with wins over Hampton, Florida Gulf Coast, North Carolina Central and Campbell, earning the tournament title. Elon won three of those matches in three sets.
• Junior Carly Ledbetter was named the tournament MVP after recording 35 kills, eight service aces and three blocks in 12 sets played. She finished with a career-high 12 kills against Florida Gulf Coast.
• Senior Caroline Lemke earned all-tournament honors after her 30 kills off 60 attempts and only three errors to compile a .450 attack percentage. Lemke also tallied six blocks and nine digs. Against Campbell, she earned 13 kills off 25 attempts with no errors to hit .520.
• Freshman Chanelle Smith made an early impression with 44 kills, 24 digs and four aces. She recorded the first double-double of her career against Campbell with 14 kills and 12 digs.
• Elon plays its first home match of the season Tuesday, August 30, against Radford at 6 p.m. inside Alumni Gym.
Women’s Soccer (1-1-1)
Elon at UMass, Friday, Sept. 2 at 4 p.m., Amherst, Mass.
Elon at Harvard, Sunday, Sept. 4 at 12 p.m., Cambridge, Mass.
• The Phoenix won its first game of the season on Thursday, August 25, with a 1-0 victory over the Longwood Lancers. Junior captain Jaclyn Wood scored in the 60th minute off a great pass from Catherine Brinkman to lead the Phoenix to victory.
• Elon's trip to New England this weekend will be a homecoming of sorts for one coach and two players. Elon associated head coach Stuart Horne is a 1997 graduate of UMass, while players Shannon Foley and Marissa Russo both hail from the Boston area.
• Elon returns to the friendly confines of Rudd Field on Sept. 9 when it hosts North Florida.
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