Elon Women’s Tennis Looks to Keep Pace in SoCon at Samford, Chattanooga

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s tennis team will look to stay among the leaders of the Southern Conference this weekend when it travels to Samford on Saturday, April 5, and Chattanooga on Sunday, April 6.

LOGJAM AT THE TOP: The top of the SoCon standings are cluttered with one undefeated team in conference play and four others with just one loss and this weekend could start to figure seeding for the upcoming Southern Conference Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. starting on April 16. Among the group with one loss are Elon, Samford and Chattanooga. UNC Greensboro is the fourth one-loss team. The Spartans take on Chattanooga on Saturday, followed by Samford on Sunday. After this weekend’s trip, Elon will play its final SoCon road match Thursday, April 10, at UNC Greensboro.

ELON vs. SAMFORD: The Phoenix and Bulldogs will meet for just the sixth time tomorrow with Elon holding a slim 3-2 advantage on Samford. The Phoenix has come out victorious each of the last two seasons against Samford, including a 6-1 win last season at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

ELON vs. CHATTANOOGA: Meeting for the 15th time in program history, Elon holds a slight 7-6 series advantage over the Mocs, but Chattanooga has had Elon’s number each of the last two years. Last season at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center, the Phoenix suffered one of their two conference losses of the season with a 4-3 defeat. The Mocs beat Elon by the same score a year earlier in Chattanooga. Follow the match from Chattanooga with live stats HERE.

LOOKING BACK: In its first of four straight matches on the road, Elon needed a come-from-behind effort to knock off Appalachian State and keep pace at the top of the SoCon standings. Maria Camara Ruiz battled cramps throughout her match on court No. 5, but the junior gutted out a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Jessica Thaggard. Trailing 3-1, the Phoenix also got win on court Nos. 2 and 6 from Frida Jansaker and Taylor Casey to put Camara Ruiz in position to win the match.

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.

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.

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.

LOOKING AHEAD: Elon continues its road trip tomorrow, April 6, against the Chattanooga Mocs. The match is set for 12 p.m. on the UTC Tennis Courts.