Elon, N.C. – The Elon University volleyball team begins its 2022 season Friday and Saturday at the VCU Invitational.

The Phoenix opens its season Friday with a match against Liberty at 2:30 p.m. The maroon and gold will then play twice on Saturday, beginning with an 11 a.m. matchup against High Point before facing the tournament host at 2:30 p.m. VCU is hosting the Invitational at the Siegel Center.

COVERAGE

• Live stats will be available (follow links on the Elon Volleyball schedule page by CLICKING HERE)
• The final match of the weekend against VCU will be streamed live on ESPN+.
• For live updates during matches, follow the Elon Volleyball Twitter account @ElonVB. 

PHOENIX FACTS

• Elon went 17-11 (11-5 CAA) last season, finishing second in the CAA regular season standings.
• For the first time since joining the conference in 2014, the Phoenix advanced to the CAA Championship match. After defeating Hofstra in the semifinals, the maroon and gold lost to Towson in five sets.
• Elon returns 12 players from last year's roster, including three who started all 28 matches in Leah Daniel, Haylie Clark and Jenn Krzeminski. Libero Jordan Gower also appeared in all 101 of the team's sets.
• The maroon and gold return its leaders in kills, points, assists, digs, blocks and aces from last season.
• The Phoenix welcomes four freshmen in Sydney Daniels, Brooke Doherty, Lindsey Harris and Clara LaRue.
• Elon is led by head coach Mary Tendler, who is in her 20th season with the team. 

PRESEASON POLL & ALL-CAA TEAM

• Elon was selected to finish second in the 2022 CAA Preseason Poll and received three first-place votes. Defending champion Towson ranked first in the poll, earning seven of the 10 first-place votes.
• For the second straight year, Leah Daniel was named as the CAA Preseason Player of the Year. The Zionsville, Ind. native earned 2021 All-CAA First Team honors after ranking first in the CAA in kills (391), second in kills per set (3.87) and second in points per set (4.23).
• Haylie Clark was selected to the Preseason All-CAA Team. The Saint Cloud, Fla. native was named the 2021 CAA Setter of the Year and after finishing second in the league in assists (955) and third in assists per set (9.46).
• Jenn Krzeminski was tabbed as an honorable mention to the Preseason All-CAA Team. The Furlong, Pa. native led the conference in hitting percentage (.389) and the team in blocks (114) last season.

THE SERIES

• Liberty is 22-3 in the all-time series. The teams last played at the Liberty Invitational on Sept. 7, 2019, with the Flames winning in straight sets.
• High Point holds a 33-32 edge against Elon. The Panthers swept the Phoenix in their last matchup on Sept. 16, 2017.
• VCU leads 6-2 when playing Elon and won the last meeting between the teams in four sets on Feb. 23, 2021.

SCOUTING LIBERTY

• Liberty posted a 10-14 record last year, finishing fifth in the Atlantic Sun's East Division.
• The Flames compiled a 6-1 mark in neutral court matches last season.
• Liberty's roster consists of seven freshmen and five sophomores. The team also added three transfers this season.
• Liberty was picked to finish fifth in the 2022 Atlantic Sun Preseason Poll.
• The Flames are led by fifth-year head coach Trevor Johnson.

SCOUTING HIGH POINT

• High Point won the Big South regular season title last year after finishing 15-1 in conference matches and 24-7 overall.
• The Panthers return several key players from last season, including the 2021 Big South Player of the Year in Dylan Maberry, 2021 Big South Co-Setter of the Year in Maria Higgins and 2021 Big South Freshman of the Year in Sydney Palazzolo.
• The Panthers were picked to finish first in the 2022 Big South Preseason Poll and received all nine first-place votes.
• Maberry was selected as the Big South's Preseason Player of the Year. Palazzolo, Higgins and Gabby Idlebird all represented the Panthers on the Big South All-Preseason Team.
• High Point is led by fifth-year head coach Ryan Meek.

SCOUTING VCU

• VCU compiled an overall record of 18-12 last season and finished second in the Atlantic 10 regular season standings.
• The Rams return 2021 All-Atlantic 10 Conference First Team selections Jasmine Knight and Jovanna Vukcevic, who ranked second and third in the league in kills last season, respectively.
• VCU was picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll. The team garnered two of the league's 10 first-place votes.
• The Rams are led by head coach Jody Rogers, who is in entering her 10th season at VCU.

UP NEXT

• Elon will compete in the NC State Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2-3. The Phoenix will play a pair of matches on Friday, facing Colgate at 11 a.m. before taking on Tennessee at 4 p.m. The maroon and gold conclude the tournament on Saturday with a 2 p.m. matchup against host NC State.
• Following that tournament, Elon will host Duke for its home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 6:00 p.m. inside Schar Center.