DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Elon University volleyball team opens its 2024 regular season at the Wildcat Classic with a trio of matches beginning on Friday.
 
The Phoenix opens its season playing tournament host, Davidson at 7 p.m. on Friday. The maroon and gold returns on Saturday with matches against East Tennessee State and Marshall.

COVERAGE

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

PHOENIX FACTS

• Elon returns 12 players, including the top three attackers from last season: Cameron Lanier, Sydney Love and Keira Kasten, who all averaged over two kills per set. 
• Also back for the maroon and gold is Caroline Berlekamp who led the team in blocks last season.  
• Elon's team captains are Love and Abigail Sparkman. 
• The Phoenix welcomes five newcomers in Casey Brower, Kayla Palmer, Catherine Rucker, Anna Sewell and graduate transfer Annabelle Schall.
• Elon is led by head coach Mary Tendler, who is in her 22nd season with the team.   

PRESEASON POLL & ALL-CAA TEAM 

• Elon was selected to finish tenth in the 2024 CAA Preseason Poll. Defending regular-season champion Towson ranked first in the poll, earning five first-place votes.  
• Senior outside hitter, Love was elected to the Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention team for the second consecutive year after leading the team with 230 (2.88/set) last season. Love is a two-year captain for the Phoenix and reached double-digit kills in 14 contests and totaled 45 blocks and 77 digs in the 2023 campaign. 

THE SERIES 

• Elon leads 13-12 in the all-time series against Davidson. The teams last met on March 20, 2021, where the Phoenix won in five sets.
• East Tennessee State holds a 3-1 edge against Elon. The two teams will meet for the first time in almost a decade after the Phoenix fell in four sets on Nov. 13, 2004. 
• This will be just the second all-time meeting between Elon and Marshall and the first since Sept. 13, 2002, when the Herd defeated the Phoenix in straight sets.

SCOUTING DAVIDSON 

• Davidson compiled an overall record of 19-10 last season and finished fourth in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
• The Wildcats return 10 players, including the team leaders in kills, assists and blocks. The team welcomes four freshmen to the squad this season.
• Chris Willis is entering his 14th season at the helm of the Wildcat program. Willis added two assistant coaches to his staff, Rachel Bewick and Christian Prayer, this season.

SCOUTING ETSU 

• ETSU posted a 6-23 record last year, finishing eighth in the Southern Conference.
• The Buccaneers were selected to finish sixth in the 2024 So-Con Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving one first-place vote.
• Right side hitter Jenna Forster was named to the 2024 So-Con Preseason All-Conference team after finishing third on the team in kills and blocks last season.
• Lindsey Devine returns to the ETSU program this season after leading the Buccaneers from 2003 through 2018.

SCOUTING MARSHALL 

• Marshall finished last season with a 13-19 overall record, ranking fifth in the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference.
• Marshall was picked to finish sixth in the East Division of the 2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll.
• A team full of veterans, the Herd has 15 returners and eight newcomers, including a trio of transfers.
• Senior setter Brynn Brown returns for the Herd after leading the team in assists and ranking second on the team in kills.
• The Herd is led by Ari Aganus, entering her sixth season.

UP NEXT

• Elon will return home to Schar Center for a mid-week matchup against Gardner-Webb on Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m. for Bridgerton Night.