Elon Phoenix Classic

ELON, N.C. – For the first time this season, the Elon volleyball team will play in the friendly confines of Alumni Gym as it hosts the Elon Phoenix Classic on Friday – Saturday, Sept. 4 – 5. The Phoenix (0-4) welcomes Charleston Southern (1-3), North Carolina Central (0-4) and Wake Forest (1-2) for the round robin tournament. Elon plays the Bucs on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. before taking on the Eagles and Demon Deacons on Sept. 5 at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
 
A Look at the Phoenix
Elon dropped another five-set heartbreaker on Tuesday at High Point with the Panthers claiming the 3-2 win (25-20, 24-26, 25-20, 12-25, 14-16) in High Point, N.C. Catherine Head had a career night at the net with a new career-high 10 blocks as the maroon and gold out-blocked HPU, 13-6. Megan Gravley led all players with 19 kills and fell just shy of the double-double with nine digs. Maddie Jaudon recorded 19 digs for Elon, while Kayla Agae finished with 14.
 
Elon vs. Charleston Southern
Friday night marks the 14th meeting between Elon and CSU and the first since 2010. The Phoenix holds the slight advantage in the all-time series, 7-5, and claimed wins in the last two meetings. The Bucs last victory came in 2002 in Alumni Gym, while the Phoenix took a 3-1 win in Durham, N.C., in the last match on Aug. 27, 2010.
 
Elon vs. North Carolina Central
This year marks the seventh straight year the Phoenix and Eagles have played each other and the 25th overall meeting. Elon has won the last 13 matches between the two with the last three coming in the form of a sweep and holds a 19-5 series advantage.
 
Elon vs. Wake Forest
The history against the Deacs goes all the way back to the beginning for Elon. On Oct. 4, 1972, Elon played its first match in program history at Wake Forest. Since then, the Phoenix and the Deacs have met 24 times with WFU holding a 14-10 advantage in the series. The two played for the first time in almost 13 years last season in Winston-Salem, N.C., with the Deacs taking a 3-1 win.
 
Elon Phoenix Classic History
The Phoenix has been hosting a home tournament consistently every year since 2006. In those nine years, Elon has gone a combined 14-13. NCCU has played in the Elon Phoenix Classic three times previously, while this marks Charleston Southern and Wake Forest's first appearances in the tournament.
 
Head Coach Mary Tendler
Elon head coach Mary Tendler is in her 13th season with the Phoenix program. She enters the weekend with a 191-205 Elon and career coaching record.
 
Looking Ahead
The Phoenix remains at home for its next match when it hosts former Southern Conference opponent Davidson on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 8 p.m. in Alumni Gym.