| Elon Phoenix (12-10) vs. Richmond (2-10), vs. Charleston Southern (10-5) |
|
ELON, N.C. – Elon University women's tennis concludes the home portion of its season before the 2018 CAA Tennis Championships with matches against Richmond and Charleston Southern this weekend. The Phoenix faces the Spiders on Saturday, April 7, at Starmount Country Club in Greensboro, followed by the Buccaneers on Senior Day at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center on Sunday, April 8, at 1 p.m.
SENIOR DAY
The Phoenix will host Senior Day against Charleston Southern on Sunday afternoon. Elon will recognize its three-member senior class of
Erica Braschi,
Olivia Lucas and
Kirsten Ward before the match. The Senior Day ceremonies will begin at 12:20 p.m.
THE SERIES
The Phoenix leads Richmond 2-0 in the all-time series and has faced the Spiders both times since 2013. Elon won last season's matchup 4-1 in Richmond as
Erica Braschi clinched the victory for the Phoenix. Charleston Southern leads 5-2 in the all-time series against Elon. This will be the first matchup between the Phoenix and the Buccaneers since 2007.
LAST TIME OUT
The Phoenix extended its winning streak to four matches with a 4-3 victory at College of Charleston on Saturday.
Olivia Lucas highlighted the afternoon, helping clinch the doubles point and securing Elon's win with a victory at No. 1 singles.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Richmond is 2-10 overall and 1-1 in A10 action heading into Saturday's contest. The Spiders' two wins this season have come against George Mason and Nova Southeastern. Charleston Southern enters the match with a 10-5 record overall and a 5-2 mark in the Big South. The Buccaneers have won two straight matches heading into its contest against Elon.
STRONG SENIOR CLASS
Elon's senior class of
Erica Braschi (58),
Olivia Lucas (49), and
Kirsten Ward (30) have posted 136 total singles wins in dual matches for their careers. In doubles action, Braschi (51), Lucas (44), and Ward (32) have combined for 127 dual match wins in their tenures.
CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOKS
Erica Braschi and
Olivia Lucas are among the best in the program's Division I era history. Braschi currently ranks tied for 2nd all-time in singles victories and 4th all-time in doubles wins. Lucas is ranked 6th all-time in career singles and doubles victories.
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 197 victories and is four away from reaching 200 for her career. Since joining the CAA in 2015, the Phoenix has posted a 58-35 dual match record under the direction of Anderson. Anderson earned her first-ever year accolade during the team's second year in the league as she was named the 2016 CAA Coach of the Year after 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.
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.
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 began 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. Elon is 21-5 in its last 26 matches at home.
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.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix closes out the regular season with a contest at James Madison on Saturday, April 14, at 10 a.m.
--ELON--
