ELON, N.C. – The Elon University volleyball team travels to Hempstead, N.Y. this weekend for its first two conference matches of the season against Hofstra on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16-17. Both matches at David S. Mack Physical Education Center are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
 
COVERAGE

• Live stats for both matches will be available (follow links on the Elon Volleyball schedule page by CLICKING HERE).
• Both matches will be streamed live on FloVolleyball.
• For live updates during Elon's matches, follow the Elon Volleyball Twitter account @ElonVB.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• Elon went 2-0 last weekend at the Phoenix Volley for Unity Tournament.
• Elon swept Western Carolina in the first match of the tournament. After the Phoenix won the first two sets 25-19 and 25-20, Western Carolina would rally in the third before ultimately losing it 25-23 to end the match.
• Freshman, Caroline Berlekamp was named All-Tournament MVP after finishing the tournament with 18 kills (3.00/set) on a .586 hitting percentage with 10 blocks (1.67/set).
• Jordan Gower was also named to the All-Tournament Team. She recorded 36 digs on the including 4.83 per set in the back-to-back wins.
• The maroon and gold battled hard in the second match against NC Central winning the first set 25-23. Elon would win the second 25-22 and have to battle from behind to seal the match in the third set 25-23.
• Middle Blocker, Kyla Johnson tied her season-high in kills with three and recorded a career-high hitting percentage (.750) and four blocks on her birthday, Sunday, Sept. 10 against NC Central. 
• Jessica Parker racked up her first double-double in the matchup against the Catamounts recording 21 assists and 11 digs. The freshmen would then set a new career-high in assists against the Eagles with 30.

PHOENIX FACTS

• Gower again leads the CAA in digs per set (4.48). She has recorded double-digit digs six times this season. With 1,483 career digs, she ranks No. 5 in Elon history. 
• Freshman, Parker leads the team in assists (168) and service aces (8).
• Cameron Lanier (69) and Sydney Love (47) continue to lead the team in kills.
• Cameron Lanier paces the Phoenix in kills (52). Lanier posted a career-high 7 blocks in their match against NC Central last weekend.
• Middle Blocker, Berlekamp leads the maroon and gold in blocks (22.0), followed by Lanier with (21.0).

 
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.   
• 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 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 MATCHUP

• Hofstra leads the all-time series against Elon 10-5.
• The Phoenix has won the last three meetings between the teams, including the most recent on Nov. 19, 2021 in the CAA Tournament.
• The maroon and gold has only dropped one set against the Pride since losing in four sets on Oct. 24, 2019.

 
SCOUTING HOFSTRA

• Hofstra enters conference play after recording a 10-1 record in its non-conference slate.
• The Pride went 3-0 at last weekend's Dartmouth Invitational after defeating Stonehill, Seton Hall, and tournament host Dartmouth.
• Hofstra was tabbed to finish third in the CAA Preseason Poll.
• As a team, the Pride leads the league and NCAA DI in total team service aces with 99 while ranking fifth in the nation in service aces per set (2.48).
• Hofstra also leads the CAA in total kills (543) and assists (496).
• Clara Bal leads the league in kills (132) and ranks No. 5 in hitting percentage with a .334. The sophomore also has a CAA-best 148.5 points this season.
• Setter, Beatriz Alves leads the CAA in assists (401) and service aces (24). Alves's 92 digs are the most on the team.
• With 38 total blocks, Sarah Pierre ranks No. 5 in the CAA. Emily Nunes is second on the team with 20.
• The Pride are led by head coach Emily Mansur in her 11^th season.  

 
UP NEXT
Elon returns to Schar Center for its first home CAA series against UNCW next Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23-24. First serve for both matches is scheduled for 2 p.m.