| Elon Phoenix (2-1) vs. North Carolina A&T Aggies (2-1) |
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ELON, N.C. – Elon University volleyball will open its 46th home season inside Alumni Gym on Tuesday night, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. when it takes on North Carolina A&T. Tuesday's match marks the first of 14 home matches throughout the 2017 regular season, the final campaign inside Alumni Gym before transitioning to the Schar Center in 2018.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA A&T
The Aggies opened the 2017 campaign with two victories at the ISTAP College Cup in Montgomery, Ala., over the weekend There, North Carolina A&T took victories over Alabama A&M and Grambling State before falling in its final match against host Alabama State. Alyssa Pitt led the Aggies through the weekend with 38 kills while hitting 35.5 percent. Jasmine Lindor was A&T's most efficient attacker, finishing with 19 kills to just four errors for a 37.5 hitting percentage. Freshman Edie Brewer had 24 kills and nine aces on opening weekend to go with 75 assists.
TWO FAMILIAR PROGRAMS
North Carolina A&T head coach Hal Clifton was an assistant coach at Elon for six seasons from 2005 through the 2010 season before taking over the Aggies. One of his assistant coaches, Blaine Tendler, is married to Elon head coach
Mary Tendler.
SERIES HISTORY
Elon has dominated the all-time series against the Aggies, taking 29 of the 38 meetings to date. The Phoenix has not lost to the Aggies since Oct. 3, 2006. Since, Elon has won 10 consecutive matches. In each of the last seven matches going back to Sept. 29, 2010, Elon has not lost a set to North Carolina A&T.
STEPPING RIGHT IN
Kodi Garcia stepped in as Elon's starting setter on opening weekend and made the most of the opportunity, finishing the three matches with two double-doubles behind 123 assists and 26 digs. Her 123 digs averaged out to a stellar 10.25 per set. For her efforts, Garcia was named CAA Rookie of the Week on Monday. Garcia was joined by fellow first-year player
Courtney Carpenter as the only two rookies to start over the weekend.
QUEEN CITY QUEENS
Sydney Busa and
Kam Terry had stellar opening weekends in Charlotte and were both named to the Charlotte Invitational All-Tournament Team. Busa led the Phoenix with 59 kills (4.92 per set) and 43 digs (3.58 per set). Through the first weekend, she is leading the CAA in kills. Terry had double-doubles in all three weekend matches, finishing with 54 kills (4.50 per set) and 34 digs (2.83 per set).
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. College of Charleston was picked to win the league with six first-place votes and Hofstra followed closely with three first-place votes.
HEAD COACH MARY TENDLER
Elon head coach
Mary Tendler is in her 15th season at the helm of the program. After winning her 200th match as the team's leader last season, she holds a 218-240 record to date with 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 return to the road Friday and Saturday, Sept. 1 and 2, for the Liberty Invitational in Lynchburg, Va. The Phoenix will take on Furman on Friday at 4:30 p.m. before going up against Maryland on Saturday at 10 a.m. and Liberty later in the day at 7 p.m.
--ELON--
