ELON, N.C. – The Elon University volleyball team will host the Elon Phoenix Classic in Schar Center on Friday, September 6, and Saturday, September 7.
The Phoenix will welcome Murray State, N.C. Central and UNCG for the two-day tournament. Elon will play Murray State on Friday at 7 p.m. before playing a pair of matches Saturday against N.C. Central at 10 a.m. and UNCG at 7 p.m.
COVERAGE
- Live stats will be available (follow links on the Elon Volleyball schedule page by CLICKING HERE.
- The match will be streamed live on FloVolleyball.
- For live updates during matches, follow the Elon Volleyball Twitter account @ElonVB.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Phoenix improved to 1-3 with their home opener win against Gardner-Webb on Tuesday night.
- Sydney Love led the team in kills with a career-high 24, followed by Kiera Kasten (22) and Lily Barker (10) who also tallied career-highs.
- Annabelle Schall tallied a team-high 44 assists and four aces while adding 17 digs to record her second double-double of the season.
- Caroling Doyle paced the Phoenix with a career-high 27 digs while adding two aces. Doyle now ranks eighth in the NCAA in digs per set at 5.64.
- Barker also recorded a career-high in blocks with five to lead the team, followed by Caroline Berlekamp and Kyla Johnson with four.
PHOENIX FACTS
- Sydney Love continues to lead the Elon offense with 45 kills, ranking third in the league. Keira Kasten follows and ranks sixth in the league in kills per set at 3.50.
- Annabelle Schall leads the team and ranks third in the CAA in assists (94) while also ranking second in aces (8) and aces per set (0.57).
- Caroline Doyle leads the conference and team in digs (79) and digs per set (5.64). Her 5.64 digs per set ranks eighth in the NCAA.
- Elon ranks No. 2 in the CAA in assists per set (12.14) and No. 3 in aces (22) and digs per set (16.29).
THE SERIES
- This will be the first all-time meeting between the Phoenix and Murray State.
- Elon leads the all-time series over N.C. Central 30-5. Last season, the Phoenix swept the Eagles on Sept. 10, 2023.
- UNCG holds a 36-22 edge against Elon. The two teams last met on Sept. 10, 2022, where the Spartans won in four sets.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
- Murray State was picked to finish eighth in the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
- The Racers went 0-3 last weekend at the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Volleyball Classic falling to Jackson State, UT Arlington and Louisiana.
- The team returned their top three point-scorers from last season in Darci Metzger, Ella Vogel and Haidi Millou.
- Also back is fifth-year libero Dahlia Miller who ranked second in the MVC last season with 5.56 digs per set.
- Metzger was named to the 2024 MVC Preseason All-Conference team after leading the team in kills per set (4.28) and total points (489.5)
- Dave Schwepker is in his 27th season leading the Racers.
SCOUTING N.C. CENTRAL
- N.C. Central was picked to finish sixth in the 2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
- Senior defensive specialist, Loren Johnson was named to the 2024 All-MEAC Team after leading the team in digs (368), digs per set (3.83) and aces (33).
- The Eagles started their season last weekend going 0-2, falling in both matches against North Carolina A&T in straight sets.
- Jody Brown enters his ninth season at the helm of the Eagles program.
SCOUTING UNCG
- UNCG was picked to finish ninth in the 2024 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
- The 2024 team included seven returners and 10 newcomers (five freshmen and five transfers).
- UNCG is 2-1 after hosting their Spartan Classic last weekend. The Spartans defeated Robert Morris and USC Upstate and fell to Missouri State.
- Freshman outside hitter Allie Sweet was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week after leading the team with 61 kills and 4.69 kills per set.
- Head Coach Felicia Turner enters her second season at the helm of the UNCG program.
UP NEXT
- Elon will return home to Schar Center on Tuesday, Sept. 10 for a matchup against Norfolk State at 7:00 p.m. for Disco Night.
-- ELON --
