ELON, N.C. – Elon University volleyball opens conference play this weekend as the College of Charleston hosts the Phoenix (5-5) for two matches on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17-18. Friday's match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start and the teams then meet again at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

COVERAGE
Live stats will be available and both matches will be streamed live on FloSports.
 
ABOUT THE PHOENIX
- Elon is coming off a 3-0 loss at North Carolina this past Tuesday, Sept. 14.
- The Phoenix built an 18-13 lead in the opening set, but the Tar Heels were able to pull even at 20-20 and again at 23-23. The hosts then earned the next two points to secure the 25-23 decision.
- The maroon and gold led 7-6 early in Set Two, but an 8-1 swing gave the Tar Heels the momentum. A Leah Daniel kill and a block by Haylie Clark and Natalie Cummins helped close the gap at 24-17, but UNC won the set point for the 2-0 lead.
- Elon could not slow the Tar Heel offense in the third set, quickly falling behind 9-1. Eight unanswered points then pushed the hosts' ;ead to 19-3. Sydney Love scored a pair of late kills and Jenn Krzeminski added another, but a 25-8 tally brought the match to an end.
- Daniel led the Phoenix with 12 kills and Love followed with eight. Clark continued her streak of matches of double-digit assists, finishing with 24. The senior captain also recorded two blocks while Krzeminski and Cummins collected one each and Kellyn Trowse tallied eight digs.
- Elon is currently seventh in the latest CAA standings.
- Daniel leads the team with 138.0 points (4.31/set) and 126 kills (3.94/set). Clark is nearing 300 assists this season with 289 and Alex VanWestrienen has served a team-high 10 aces. Jordan Gower is up to 136 digs (4.25/set) and Jenn Krzeminski is the lead blocker for the Phoenix with 35 (1.13/set).
- Daniel ranks first in the league in kills per set, Clark is third with 9.03 assists per set, Gower is fourth in digs per set and Krzeminski is fifth in blocks per set.
 
THE SERIES
- Charleston leads the all-time series, 32-3 and has taken the previous three meetings.
- Elon closed out its abbreviated Spring 2021 season at Charleston on March 27-28. CofC took the first match in straight sets before defeating the Phoenix 3-1 the following day.
- After setting a new career high with three blocks in the first match, Claire Richey more than doubled that effort with seven in the second meeting.

SCOUTING CHARLESTON
- The Cougars (7-4) were picked to finish fourth in the CAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 43 points. Juniors Emma Falk and Claire Campbell were both named to the Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mentions.
- CofC added a new volunteer assistant coach in Rebecca Frost, who was a standout at Snow College. She ranked among the top-20 nationally in blocks as a freshman in 2016 and helped the Badgers post back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time during the rally scoring era.
- The Cougars return four seniors and seven juniors after posting a 5-6 record this past spring. The team finished the shortened season ranked third nationally in blocks per set (3.14).
- CofC bring back three starters from last year's squad.
- Charleston opened its season hosting the CofC Invitational on Aug. 27-29. After a straight-set loss to Eastern Michigan that Friday, the team bounced back with a pair of 3-1 wins over Kennesaw State and Indiana State on Saturday. The Cougars then rounded out their tournament with a 3-1 victory against Montana that Sunday.
- Charleston just hosted its second tournament of the season, the CofC Classic, on Sept. 10-12. Following a 3-1 setback to Idaho State last Friday, the Cougars defeated Campbell 3-1 and Florida 3-1 last Saturday. The team then bested Davidson in four sets this past Sunday.
- Gabi Bailey leads the Cougars with 161.0 points, Campbell is next with 120.0, and Lexi Wierzbicki has 112.5. Bailey and Wierzbicki pace the attack with 131 and 104 kills, respectively. Emma Appleman is the primary setter with 282 assists, and Jasmin Goei follows her with 134. Bailey and Sammy Campion have combined to serve 36 aces. On defense, Campion owns 170 digs and Bailey is up to 107 digs. Six Cougars have recorded double-digit blocks this season, led by Campbell with 45.

UP NEXT
- Elon returns to Schar Center for a pair of CAA matches versus Delaware on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26.