Elon Women’s Tennis Embarks on Final Road Swing of Season Tuesday

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s tennis team begins its final road trip of the 2014 season with the start of a four-match swing tomorrow, March 31, in Boone, N.C. against Appalachian State at 3 p.m. at the Yonahlossee Racquet Club.

TRACK THE PHOENIX: Follow Tuesday’s match against Appalachian State with live stats here.

ELON vs. APPALACHIAN STATE: In 12 matches since 2002, the Phoenix holds an 8-4 advantage over the Mountaineers. Elon took the match last season between the two programs with a 4-3 victory on April 11 at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. In the last 10 matches, Elon has a 8-2 advantage after dropping the first two matches of the series in 2002 and 2003.

LOGJAM AT THE TOP: The top of the Southern Conference standings are cluttered with one undefeated team in SoCon play and four others with just one loss. Entering play Tuesday, Elon has a chance to finish the afternoon with a 4-1 mark in SoCon play. That would cause a three-way tie for third place with Chattanooga and UNC Greensboro while Samford would posses a 5-1 mark and Furman with a perfect 5-0 conference record. Elon’s next three opponents after tomorrow’s match with the Mountaineers are against Samford, Chattanooga and UNC Greensboro, respectively.

LOOKING BACK: With more than one week off since its last match Saturday, March 22, at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center against Wofford, Elon figures to be well rested entering tomorrow’s match coming off a 7-0 sweep of the Terriers. The Phoenix didn’t give up a single match in singles or doubles on the way to the win while Jordan Johnston needed to battle back on court No. 1 to win a three-set match to complete the sweep.
FRIENDLY CONFINES: Dating back to the start of the 2013 spring season, Elon holds a 17-4 record at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. The Phoenix fell to the Furman Paladins Friday, March 21, this season to mark the only home loss of the year. Previously, Elon’s last loss at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center came March 14, 2013 against UNC Greensboro. Elon’s home record this season sits at 7-1.

SOCON HONORS: Both Barbora Lazarova and Jordan Johnston have been honored in the last two weeks as the Southern Conference’s Player of the Week. Lazarova picked up the honor March 18 and Johnston earned the award March 25. Individually, Lazarova holds an 11-2 singles record while Johnston’s mark sits at 9-5. To earn the award, Johnston pulled off two come-from-behind victories at No. 1 singles against Furman and Wofford on the way to winning the honor.

JANSAKER HONORED: Jansaker became the fourth Elon athlete throughout the 2013-2014 academic year to be named the Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week on Feb. 19. The honor came after Jansaker won her doubles match against UNC Wilmington Feb. 17 before helping Elon come from behind against the Seahawks to win the match with a victory at No. 2 singles. Nathan Dean of the men’s soccer team, Sam Coffer of the women’s basketball team and Brian Kowalski of the men’s tennis team are the other three Elon athletes to earn the award this year.

WINNING WAYS: After dropping its first four matches of the season, Elon went on an eight-match winning streak before having it snapped against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on March 16. In the last two seasons, the Phoenix has had winning streaks of 11 matches, 10 matches and eight matches while only dropping 10 matches through the last two seasons.

LOOKING AHEAD: Elon continues its road trip next time out Saturday, April 5, in Birmingham, Ala. against the Samford Bulldogs. The match is set for 11 a.m. EDT, 10 a.m. CDT.