Elon at Charlotte Invitational Aug. 25 | Elon vs. Southern Utah Aug. 25 | Elon vs. Belmont Aug. 26 | Elon at Charlotte Date/Time Aug. 25 | 12 & 3 p.m. Aug. 26 | 6 p.m. Location Charlotte, N.C. Facility Halton Arena Series History SUU | First Meeting Belmont | First Meeting Charlotte leads 8-5 Last Meeting SUU | First Meeting Belmont | First Meeting Charlotte | Aug. 26, 2016 Charlotte won 3-1 Watch at Charlotte Live Stats vs. Southern Utah vs. Belmont at Charlotte Match Notes Click Here Twitter Updates @ElonVB

ELON, N.C. – Elon University volleyball will open its 46th season of competition this weekend with three matches at the Charlotte Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. The Phoenix will open the campaign Friday afternoon, Aug. 25, with a 12 p.m. match against Southern Utah and will follow with a second match at 3 p.m. against Belmont. On Saturday, Aug. 26, Elon will battle Charlotte at 6 p.m. All three matches will be played inside Charlotte's Halton Arena.

THE 2017 ROSTER
Elon returns nine players from the 2016 campaign, including three starters - Sydney Busa, Michelle Klein and Kam Terry - and its libero, Maddie Jaudon. Losing six players from last season's roster, the Phoenix welcomed six new faces to the program that represent five different states. Two of Elon's three returning starters - Busa and Klein - will serve as team captains this year. They are the only two seniors on the 2017 roster.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
Elon will meet Southern Utah for the first time in program history on Friday. The Thunderbirds roster consists of eight freshmen, one of which led Southern Utah in a scrimmage on Aug. 14 against UNLV. Against the Rebels, Janet Kalaniuvalu, a 6-2 outside hitter, posted 21 kills to lead all players in the five-set match. She also had seven digs and three aces. Southern Utah is coming off a 4-24 season. It ended the season winning one set in the last seven matches.

SCOUTING BELMONT
Belmont enters opening weekend after posting a 16-12 campaign in 2016. In Ohio Valley Conference action, the Bruins won 10 matches, but were ousted in the first round of the OVC Tournament by Eastern Kentucky after winning the tournament the year before in 2015. Belmont returns Arianna Person, who led the Bruins in 2016 with 425 kills as a junior. She also had 67 blocks, 45 assists and 34 aces. Setter Emma Price is also back in 2017 after posting 1,130 assists as a junior a season ago to go with 94 kills, 59 blocks and 28 aces. Elon and Belmont have never met. 

SCOUTING CHARLOTTE
The host 49ers kickoff the tournament Friday morning at 9 a.m. against South Carolina State before taking on Southern Utah at 6 p.m. Charlotte will then battle Belmont earlier Saturday before taking on the Phoenix. Outside hitter Janell Sparks, who led the team with 277 kills in 2016, returns for her senior season while Sofie Perrens returns after posting a team high 572 assists. A year ago, Charlotte went 7-23 while posting a 1-13 record in Conference USA action. It finished the year losing each of its last nine matches. Charlotte holds an 8-5 head-to-head record against Elon to date. 

PRESEASON HONOR AND POLL
Sydney Busa was named a Preseason All-CAA honorable mention earlier this month. It marks the second time in her career she's earned the honor. The recognition follows her 2016 Third Team All-CAA nod at season's end. Announced the same day as Busa's preseason honor, Elon was selected to finish eighth in the CAA this year. The poll was determined by a vote from all nine CAA volleyball head coaches. College of Charleston was picked to win the league with six first-place votes and Hofstra followed closely with three first-place votes.

ELON IN SEASON OPENERS
The Phoenix owns an 8-10 record in season openers since it transitioned to the Division I ranks.

HEAD COACH MARY TENDLER
Phoenix head coach Mary Tendler is in her 15th season at the helm of the program. After winning her 200th match as the team's head coach last season she enters the 2017 campaign with a career record of 216-239 (.475). She has led the Phoenix since the start of the 2003 season. 

A BID FAREWELL TO ALUMNI GYM
The 2017 season marks the 46th and final campaign for the volleyball program in Alumni Gym, with the team set to move its home matches to the Schar Center in 2018. The 5,400-seat convocation center is currently under construction and will host the volleyball program, as well as the men's and women's basketball programs, beginning with the 2018-19 academic year.

LOOKING AHEAD
Elon will open its 14-match home slate on Tuesday, Aug. 29, when it hosts North Carolina A&T. First serve between the Phoenix and Aggies is set for 7 p.m. After that, Elon will head to Lynchburg, Va., for the Liberty Invitational from Sept. 1-2. There, the Phoenix will take on Furman, Maryland and Liberty.