ELON – The Elon volleyball team continues its season-opening road swing Tuesday, traveling to UNC Asheville for an early-week contest. First serve between the Phoenix (1-2) and Bulldogs (2-1) is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Justice Center.
 
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SERIES HISTORY

• Elon and UNC Asheville will meet for the 29th time in series history dating back to 1978. It will be the first contest between the intrastate foes since 2021 and the Phoenix's first visit to Asheville since 2005.
• UNC Asheville holds an 18-10 advantage in the all-time series, with the Bulldogs winning two of the past three contests. Elon is also 2-7 all-time in Asheville, with its last road win in the series coming in 2000.
• Elon won the most recent matchup between the two schools in 2021, sweeping the Bulldogs in straight sets at Schar Center.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• The Phoenix opened its season last weekend at the Quest for the Crown tournament at Old Dominion. Elon dropped a pair of 3-1 decisions to St. John's and Norfolk State before concluding the tournament with a 3-1 victory over the Monarchs.
• Cameron Lanier totaled 41 kills in the Phoenix's three matches, averaging 3.42 kills per set. The Chapel Hill native recorded 15 kills in Elon's win over ODU and posted a double-double against St. John's with 14 kills and 11 digs.
• Anna Sewell ranked second on the squad with 33 kills, averaging 2.75 kills per set, while Caroline Berlekamp added 22 kills and paced the Phoenix with 16 total blocks.
• Kayla Palmer helped lead the Phoenix attack with 65 assists at 5.42 assists per set. April Rice ranked second with 50 assists, averaging 4.17 per set, while adding 11 kills.

 
SCOUTING UNC ASHEVILLE

• The Bulldogs are 2-1 on the young season after earning victories over Montreat College and Middle Tennessee at their home tournament last weekend. UNC Asheville's lone loss came against Boise State.
• UNC Asheville posted a 12-18 overall record in 2025 with a 7-7 mark in Big South play. The Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the 2026 Big South preseason poll.
• Sophomore outside hitter Addie Brookbank leads the Bulldogs with 35 kills while averaging 3.50 kills per set. Redshirt junior outside hitter Sarah Wadsworth ranks second with 32 kills at 3.20 kills per set.
• Freshman setter Elise Jensen leads the team with 74 assists, while Brookbank has a team-high 32 digs. Cadence Nichols is UNC Asheville's top defender at the net with 10 total blocks.
• Danielle Marante is in her third season at the helm of the UNC Asheville volleyball program. Marante guided the Bulldogs to their first appearance in the Big South Conference Championship match since 2006 last season and owns a 25-31 record at UNC Asheville.

 
ELON AT A GLANCE

• The Phoenix is in its 55th season of volleyball and 28th campaign at the Division I level in 2026.
• Elon retained 11 letterwinners from last season, including several players who started at least one match. The Phoenix also welcomes four first-year athletes into the fold for 2026.
• Elon returns 54% of its kills, 98% of its assists, 66% of its digs and 57% of its points scored from 2025.
• One of the top returners for the Phoenix is senior outside hitter Cameron Lanier. The Chapel Hill native is Elon's returning leader in total points (240.5) and total kills (211). Junior Anna Sewell was the Phoenix's leader in points per set (2.91) and kills per set (2.69).
• Junior middle blocker Catherine Rucker received 2026 Preseason All-CAA honorable mention recognition. The Chapel Hill native posted the second-most kills among Elon returners with 131, averaging 1.46 kills per set. She also led the Phoenix with 30 service aces and 63 total blocks.
• Elon also returns the setter tandem of sophomore April Rice and junior Kayla Palmer. Rice led the Phoenix in total assists with 518, averaging 5.23 assists per set. Palmer ranked second with 399 assists while averaging 4.64 assists per set.
• Defensively, Elon welcomes back two of its top three players in total digs in senior Shannon O'Laughlin and junior Casey Brower. O'Laughlin is the Phoenix's returning leader with 201 digs, while Brower recorded 190. The pair split time at libero last season.
• Head coach Matt Troy begins his second season at the helm of the Phoenix volleyball program. Troy helped lead Elon to its best conference winning percentage since 2021 last season, highlighted by the Phoenix's first road win over perennial CAA power Towson since 2021.

 
HOME SWEET HOME

• The Phoenix enters its ninth season at Schar Center, the 5,100-seat home of Elon's men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball programs.
• Elon will host 12 matches during the regular season at Schar Center. Admission is free for all fans.

 
UP NEXT

• The Phoenix travels to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the Chick-fil-A Robinson Classic this weekend. Elon will face Robert Morris and Duquesne on Friday and Eastern Michigan on Saturday during the two-day event.

 
STAY POSTED

• For further coverage of Elon volleyball, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonVB) and Instagram (@ElonVB).