ELON – The Elon University volleyball team opens the 2025 campaign on Friday at the Aggie/Phoenix Invitational, hosting Coppin State and Bethune-Cookman during the two-day tournament at Schar Center.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 29 – Coppin State at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 30 – Bethune-Cookman at 6 p.m.
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SERIES HISTORIES
- Coppin State – Elon leads the all-time series 2-0, with the most recent meeting in 2001. Friday marks the third time Elon has opened its season against Coppin State (2000, 2001).
- Bethune-Cookman – The Phoenix has played Bethune-Cookman only once going into its opening weekend, with the two teams last squaring off in 2001. The Wildcats took that contest, sweeping the Maroon and Gold in straight sets.
ELON AT A GLANCE
- The Phoenix is set for its 54th season of volleyball and the 27th campaign at the Division I level in 2025.
- Elon retained 10 letterwinners from this past season, including three starters. The Phoenix welcomes five newcomers to the fold in 2025 with four first-year athletes and one transfer.
- Among the top returners for the Phoenix include junior outside hitter Cameron Lanier. The Chapel Hill native is Elon's returning leader in in total kills (245) and kills per set (2.72) with a .236 attack percentage.
- Lanier earned 2025 Preseason All-CAA laurels with teammates Caroline Berlekamp and Catherine Rucker also getting preseason league recognition. Berlekamp, a junior middle blocker, recorded 128 kills last season while leading the team with 19 solo blocks and 101 total blocks.
- Rucker was one of two Phoenix athletes to earn All-CAA postseason honors with her All-Rookie Team selection. The Chapel Hill native and middle blocker registered 88 kills and posted a .330 attack percentage.
- Sophomore setter Kayla Palmer is Elon's returning leader in assists with 251, averaging 3.80 assists per set. The Ithaca, N.Y., native had 13 double-digit assist efforts during her rookie campaign, including four matches with 20 or more. She also recorded three double-doubles.
- Elon returns 61% of its kills, 25% of its assists, 35% of its digs and 62% of its points scored from 2024.
WELCOME COACH TROY
- Elon head coach Matt Troy begins his first season at the helm of the Phoenix volleyball program in 2025. Troy, a national championship coach, comes to the maroon and gold after spending the last six years leading the Johns Hopkins volleyball program, compiling a record of 151-17 during that span.
- Troy led Johns Hopkins to the 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals or further in each of the past three seasons, including a final four appearance in 2024.
- Over 14 seasons at the NCAA Division III level (excluding the 2020 COVID-19 season in which Johns Hopkins did not compete), Troy has built a career record of 357-96 (.788), which includes conference records of 118-15 (.887).
- From 2019-21, his teams at Johns Hopkins recorded a then-DIII record 66-match winning streak.
- Overall, Troy ranks among the top 10 winningest coaches by win percentage in NCAA Division III history, as well as ranking in the top 10 among active winningest coaches by win percentage at that level.
ALL-AMERICAN NEW FACE
- Among the new faces for the Phoenix this season includes graduate student transfer Simrin Carlsen, an outside hitter from Edison, N.J. Carlsen arrives to the Phoenix after competing at Johns Hopkins from 2021-24, recording over 1,000 career kills under former Blue Jay and now current Elon coach Matt Troy.
- Carlsen posted a decorated career at Johns Hopkins, as she was a two-time AVCA All-American, earning First Team laurels in 2023 and Second Team accolades in 2024. She was also a two-time AVCA First Team All-Region V (2023, 2024).
- She was named Baltimore Regional Most Outstanding Player in the 2023 NCAA Tournament and earned Centennial Conference Player of the Year that same season.
HOME SWEET HOME
- The Phoenix enters its eighth season playing at its home facility, Schar Center, Elon's home for Elon's men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball programs with a capacity of 5,100.
- Elon will host 11 matches this season at Schar Center. Admission is free for all fans.
UP NEXT
- Elon begins a seven-match road swing next Tuesday at in-state opponent Appalachian State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+ in Boone.
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Elon volleyball, follow the Phoenix on X (
@ElonVB) and Instagram (
@ElonVB).
-- ELON --
