Elon Women’s Tennis Finishes Road Slate at UNC Greensboro

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s tennis team closes its road schedule for the 2014 season tomorrow, April 10, just a short drive down the road against UNC Greensboro in a 2 p.m. match against the Spartans.

SEEDING BATTLE: Thursday’s match between the Phoenix and Spartans will break a tie for fourth place in the Southern Conference standings with one match each to play this weekend. Both team stand at 4-3 in conference action and both teams fell on last weekend’s road trips to Samford and Chattanooga. The No. 4 and 5 seeds will play each other in the quarterfinals of next week’s SoCon Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Thursday, April 17, at 1 p.m.

ELON vs. UNC GREENSBORO: Matches for the Phoenix against UNC Greensboro since the series started in 2000 have generally not gone in Elon’s favor, as UNCG holds a 12-3 advantage in 15 matches between the two programs. Elon’s last victory over the Spartans came in 2010 when Elon topped UNC Greensboro by the score of 5-2 at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

LOOKING BACK: Elon entered last weekend’s road swing at Samford and Chattanooga with a 4-1 record and in a four-way tie with UNCG, Samford and Chattanooga in the loss column. Though fighting hard in both matches, Elon came up just a bit short against the Bulldogs on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6, against the Mocs. With the losses, Elon is now 2-4 in its last six matches.

SOCON HONORS: Both Barbora Lazarova and Jordan Johnston have been honored this season as the Southern Conference’s Player of the Week. Lazarova picked up the honor March 18 and Johnston earned the award one week later on March 25. Individually, Lazarova holds an 11-5 record this season and has a nine-match winning streak under her belt from earlier this season. Johnston sits at 9-8 overall, playing all of her matches at No. 1 singles.

JANSAKER HONORED: Frida 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 by 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 12 matches.

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 this season at home on March 21 in the only home loss of the season. Previously, Elon’s last loss at home came March 14, 2013 against UNC Greensboro. Elon’s home record this season sits at 7-1.

FRIENDS OF JACLYN: On March 9, both the men’s and women’s tennis teams held Friends of Jaclyn Day at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center to raise awareness for pediatric brain tumors. A week later, a very special guest named Jake Ingham joined the Phoenix family when the 12-year old signed a contract with the teams. Ingham is expected to return to Elon at some point throughout this final week of the regular season to see a match.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Phoenix will finish its final regular season in the Southern Conference on Saturday, April 12, against Western Carolina at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. Prior to the 1 p.m. match, Elon will hold a joint Senior Day with the men’s tennis team to honor Jordan Johnston, Frida Jansaker and Bryn Khoury along with Cameron Silverman of the men’s team.