ELON, N.C. – Elon University volleyball and head coach Mary Tendler unveiled the program's 2022 schedule on Thursday, July 14. This fall will see the Phoenix playing 26 matches during the regular season, to include 11 at Schar Center.
 
"Our non-conference schedule has a good mix of teams that have different styles of play, which will prepare us for what is going to be a very competitive conference season," said Tendler, the CAA Coach of the Year in 2021. "The addition of new teams to the CAA will make our league stronger and create new challenges for us. Once again, with the help of our fans, we hope to make Schar Center a very difficult place to play for our opponents. Our team will compete with a lot of energy and passion and will be fun to watch. We can't wait to officially get started in August."
 
Elon starts off its 2022 campaign at the VCU Invitational on Aug. 26-27 in Richmond, Va. The Phoenix opens with a 2:30 p.m. match versus Liberty that Friday, then takes on High Point at 11 a.m. and the host Rams at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The following weekend has the maroon and gold in Raleigh, N.C. for the NC State Tournament on Sept. 2-3. Elon is slated for an 11 a.m. meeting with Colgate and a 4 p.m. match with Tennessee that Friday before playing the host Wolfpack at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

This year's home opener will pit Elon against Duke in a 6 p.m. match on Sept. 6. Elon and North Carolina A&T will then co-host the Aggie/Phoenix Volley for Unity on Sept. 9-10. Florida A&M and UNC Greensboro will play a neutral match at 2 p.m. that Friday, followed by a 7 p.m. tilt between the Phoenix and the Rattlers. UNCG and NC Central open play on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m., and Elon will then take the court against the Spartans at 7 p.m.

Elon opens league play with a pair of 2 p.m. matches at N.C. A&T on Sept. 17-18, then closes out the month at home versus William & Mary with 2 p.m. starts on Sept. 24-25. After a trip to Boston, Mass. on Oct. 1-2 to play at Northeastern, the Phoenix will be in Durham, N.C. for a 6 p.m. non-conference meeting with NCCU before hosting CAA foes Towson on Oct. 15-16 and Charleston on Oct. 22-23. Elon travels to Hampton on Oct. 29-30 and UNCW on Nov. 5-6 before rounding out the regular season back home against Stony Brook on Nov. 12-13.

This year's CAA Championship Tournament will be hosted by three-time defending champion Towson on Nov. 17-19 at SECU Arena in Towson, Md. The winner will earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Phoenix is coming off a 2021 campaign that saw the team reach the CAA Championship final for the first time in program history. Elon finished the season 17-11 overall and 11-5 in conference play, the team's best mark since joining the CAA, while posting a 9-2 record on its home court. The maroon and gold won its first five CAA matches, its best start to conference play in its NCAA Division I history, and earned CAA sweeps of Charleston, Delaware, UNCW and Hofstra.

Elon has 12 returners this fall, to include the 2021 Setter of the Year and an All-CAA Second Team selection in Haylie Clark. Also back are first team honoree Leah Daniel, who led the team with 369 kills and 401 points, Second teamer Jenn Krzeminski, Elon's top blocker last year with 110 (15 solo), and an all-rookie teamer in Sydney Love, who was second on the team in kills (228), third in points (250.5) and fifth in blocks (41). Alex VanWestrienen will join Clark as a team captain and the Phoenix adds four newcomers in Clara LaRue, Lindsey Harris, Brooke Doherty and Sydney Daniels.