Elon Men’s Tennis Changes Schedule due to Inclement Weather

ELON, N.C. – Due to inclement weather in the forecast for Saturday, Feb. 8, the Elon University men’s tennis team will take on UNC Asheville Friday, Feb. 7, at 3 p.m. at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center instead of Saturday afternoon.

Elon’s other match this weekend against Norfolk State, which was originally scheduled for Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m., has been canceled and will not be made up.

“We are looking forward to playing our first outdoor match of the season this against UNC Asheville,” said Elon coach Michael Leonard. “We’re also looking forward to starting our homestand after starting the season with a few matches on the road.”

ELON vs. UNC ASHEVILLE: Since joining the Southern Conference, Elon has never matched up against the Bulldogs. The last time the Phoenix played UNC Asheville was as Big South Conference opponents in 2003. Overall, Elon is 2-1 against the Bulldogs with the loss coming last time the two met on April 12, 2003. The loss was one of only four setbacks throughout he 2003 season for the Phoenix. In the previous two matches against UNC Asheville, Elon won 7-0 in 2000 and 6-1 in 2001.

KOWALSKI HONORED: Junior Brian Kowalski became the third Elon athlete throughout the 2013-2014 academic year to be named the Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week Jan. 22. The honor came after Kowalski won the decisive match against No. 7 Duke, one that gave Elon the upset of the Blue Devils on Jan. 17. #Nathan Dean# of the men’s soccer team and #Sam Coffer# of the women’s basketball team are the other two Elon athletes to earn the award.

ELON IN THE POLLS: Since starting the 2014 season ranked No. 64 in the nation, Elon has jumped 17 spots to No. 47, that according to the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) polls. Elon’s season-best was a No. 45 ranking that came after competition in the ITA Kickoff Weekend tournament.

LOOKING BACK: Going back 12 days to the last time the Phoenix was on the courts, the team picked up a 4-2 win over the Samford Bulldogs at the ITA Kickoff Weekend tournament in Charlottesville, Va. on Jan. 25. The match was a rematch of the SoCon Tournament final last April, one in which Samford pulled out with a 4-3 win thanks to Zac Dunkle besting #Cameron Silverman# on court No. 1 to earn the win for the Bulldogs.

LOOKING AHEAD: Elon will stay home at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center for two more matches following Friday’s match against the Spartans. The Phoenix hosts Campbell on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m., followed by a match against Greensboro College on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m.