Elon Phoenix (4-3) vs. VUC (5-2) & vs. Catawba (2-2)

Date | Time	Sunday, Feb. 18  |  11 a.m. | 3 p.m.
Location	Jimmy Powell Tennis Center
Series Record	VCU | VCU leads 1-0 Catawba | Elon leads 2-0
Last Meeting	VCU | March. 4, 2017 - VCU, 6-1 Catawba | Feb. 17, 2007 - Elon, 6-1
Live Stats	VCU | Catawba
Twitter	@ElonWTennis | @ElonPhoenix | @ElonScores

 

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ELON, N.C. – Elon University women's tennis returns home on Sunday, Feb 18, with a doubleheader against VCU and Catawba at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. The Phoenix will face the Rams at 11 a.m., followed by the Indians at 3 p.m.

THE SERIES
Sunday morning will be Elon's second meeting in the program's Division I era against VCU and the contest against Catawba will be the third meeting. Elon fell to #42 VCU 6-1 in the first meeting on March 4, 2017. Elon is 2-0 all-time against Catawba and beat the Indians 6-1 in the last meeting on Feb. 17, 2007.

WELCOME BACK
The Phoenix returns seven players – Erica Braschi, Olivia Lucas, Maria Paraja, Kirsten Ward, Suzanne Zenoni, Sofia Edo and Alex Koniaev – from last year's squad. The returning players on this year's squad accounted for 96 percent (95-of-99) of the team's singles wins and 88 percent (37-42) of doubles victories, from a team that reached the CAA Tournament semifinals last season. Highlighting the returners include All-CAA selections in Erica Braschi and Olivia Lucas. Maria Paraja is coming off a season in which she posted 18 singles victories in dual match play, the 4th most wins in a single season in the program's Division I era.

STRONG SENIOR CLASS
Elon's senior class of Erica Braschi (50), Olivia Lucas (40), and Kirsten Ward (25) have posted 114 total singles wins in dual matches for their careers. In doubles action, Braschi (45), Lucas (36), and Ward (25) have combined for 106 dual match wins in their tenures. Braschi and Lucas are among the best in the program's Division I era history. Braschi currently ranks 8th all-time in singles victories and 6th all-time in doubles wins, while Lucas is ranked 8th in career doubles wins.

HEAD COACH ELIZABETH ANDERSON
Elizabeth Anderson is entering her 14th season as head coach of the Phoenix after leading the program to an 18-8 record last season, including a Division I era program-best 14-2 mark at home. She is currently at 189 victories and is 11 away from reaching 200 for her career. Since joining the CAA in 2015, the Phoenix has posted a 50-27 dual match record under the direction of Anderson. Anderson earned her first-ever year accolade, after she was named the 2016 CAA Coach of the Year, leading the Phoenix to a 5-1 record against CAA teams. She has led Elon to 14 or more wins in the last six seasons and guided the program to its first NCAA Tournament in 2014.

LOOKING BACK
The Phoenix posted its best season as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association in 2017 with an 18-8 mark, including a 5-2 record against league foes. Elon earned the No. 2 seed for the CAA Championship, beating Towson in the first round to advance to the semifinals before falling to UNCW. Elon's seven returning players accounted for 96 percent (95-of-99) of the team's singles wins and 88 percent (37-42) of doubles victories last season.

FRESH FACES
Elon added two to its roster for the 2018 season. The Phoenix added Tyler Junior College transfer Montana Moore and freshman Mia Wallace to the fold. Moore helped lead Tyler Junior College to its 18th National Championship during her sophomore season, posting a 23-4 singles record and a 18-4 mark in doubles play. Wallace was the winner of the North State Individual Singles title and was a Massachusetts Singles State finalist as a senior in 2017 at Arlington High School (Mass.). Moore finished the fall season with a 5-5 singles record against tough competition, which included a win over North Carolina's Maggie Kane and Duke's Rebecca Smaller. Wallace completed the fall season with a 6-4 mark.

HOME COOKING
The Phoenix begins the 2018 season at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center for six of its first 10 matches. Elon completed the 2017 season with a 14-2 mark, the most wins at home in a single season as a Division I program.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix returns to action on the road Friday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m. against Winthrop, followed by a trip to Davidson on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 12 p.m.