ELON, N.C. – The Elon University volleyball team returns to action this weekend as the Phoenix competes in the Wofford Invitational Friday and Saturday in Spartanburg, S.C.
 
The maroon and gold begin the event Friday with a 12:30 p.m. match against Georgia State before facing South Carolina State at 4:30 p.m. Elon returns on Saturday to face the tournament host at 1 p.m. Wofford is hosting the tournament at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
 
COVERAGE

• Live stats will be available (follow links on the Elon Volleyball schedule page by CLICKING HERE).
• All matches will be available to watch on ESPN+.
• For live updates during matches, follow the Elon Volleyball Twitter account @ElonVB. 

LAST TIME OUT

• Elon went 0-3 at last weekend's Charlotte Invitational. The maroon and gold fell to Coastal Carolina, Charlotte and Charleston Southern
• Coastal Carolina swept Elon in its season opener on Friday. The Phoenix fought hard in the second set but ultimately lost it, 25-22. The Chants took the third set 25-16 to win the match.
• Later that evening the maroon and gold dropped the first set against tournament host Charlotte before rebounding to win the second set, 25-19. The 49ers responded by winning the third and fourth set to clinch the match.
• After winning the first set 25-22 against Charleston Southern, the Phoenix couldn't keep the momentum as the Buccaneers came back to win three straight sets.
• Sydney Love was named to the All-Tournament team after leading the team in kills (38) and points per set (3.91), tied for most blocks (8.0) and second on the team in digs (23).

 
PHOENIX FACTS 

• The Phoenix offense is led by Love who is tied for second in the CAA with 38 kills and ranks fifth in the league in kills per set (3.45). Cameron Lanier is next on the team with 24 kills.
• Jordan Gower leads Elon's back row and the conference with 49 digs and 4.45 digs per set, which ranks No. 2 in the CAA. She also leads the maroon and gold in aces with three.
• Jessica Parker (53) and Ericka Link (31) lead the Phoenix in assists.
• Lindsey Harris and Love have a team-high 8.0 blocks. Caroline Berlekamp and Lanier are next best with 7.0 blocks.
• Elon ranks No. 2 in the CAA in digs (157) and No. 3 in digs per set (14.27).

 
PRESEASON POLL & ALL-CAA TEAM 

• Elon was selected to finish seventh in the 2023 CAA Preseason Poll. Defending champion Towson ranked first in the poll, earning 11 first-place votes.  
• Jordan Gower was tabbed as an honorable mention to the Preseason All-CAA Team. The Raleigh, N.C. native led the conference in digs per set (4.57) and was No. 4 in digs (439) last season. 
• Rising junior Sydney Love also was named an All-CAA Preseason Honorable Mention. The Chesapeake, Va. native led all CAA outside hitters in blocks and blocks per set in the 2022 season.

THE SERIES

• This will be just the third all-time meeting between Elon and Georgia State and the first since Sept. 19, 2009, when the Panthers beat the Phoenix in five sets.
• Elon leads 5-0 when playing South Carolina State. In their last meeting, the maroon and gold swept the Bulldogs on Sept. 21, 2013.
• Elon is 19-5 all-time against Wofford. The Phoenix defeated the Terriers 3-2 in the last meeting between the teams on Sept. 9, 2016.

SCOUTING GEORGIA STATE

• Georgia State began its season going 2-1 after hosting the GSU Invitational last weekend.
• The Panthers won their first two matches on Friday against South Carolina State and New Orleans but fell to Chattanooga to close the tournament.
• Erin Wyatt leads Georgia State with 19 kills while Laughlin Murray has a team-high 55 assists.
• The Panthers are led by head coach Terry Hutchinson who is in second season with the team.

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA STATE

• South Carolina State is 0-4 this season after attending the GSU Invitational in Atlanta, Ga.
• The Bulldogs began their season on Friday with three set losses to both Georgia State and Chattanooga. They would then lose to New Orleans in three sets on Saturday to close out the event.
• On Tuesday, Aug. 29 the Bulldogs were swept by Charleston Southern in a midweek matchup at home.
• South Carolina State was picked to finish eighth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this season in the league's preseason poll.
• McKinley Roach is second on the team and ranks tied for No. 3 in the league in kills with 27.
• Freshman, Trinity Stevenson leads the team in digs with 20, ranking No. 2 in the MEAC. 
• Melissa Robinson enters her first year at the helm of the Bulldogs.

SCOUTING WOFFORD

• Wofford enters the tournament with a 1-1 record after competing in last week's Big Orange Bash.
• After opening the event with a win against Middle Tennessee on Saturday, the Terriers fell to tournament host Clemson Sunday afternoon.
• Senior, Millie Loehr, leads the team in blocks with 12.0.
• Two Terrier players have at least 20 kills – Mary Emily Morgan (22) and Sarah MacLean (20).
• Wofford is led by ninth-year head coach Lynze Roos.

UP NEXT

• The Phoenix travel to Duke on Tuesday, Sept. 5 for a 6:00 p.m. matchup against the Blue Devils.
• Elon will then host the Phoenix Volley for Unity next Friday-Sunday, Sept. 8-10, at the Schar Center. The maroon and gold will face Western Carolina on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and North Carolina Central on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.