Elon Women’s Tennis to Close Regular Season Against Western Carolina

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s tennis team will close its regular season tomorrow, April 12, with a 1 p.m. match against Western Carolina at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. The Phoenix will also hold Senior Day to honor its three seniors, Jordan Johnston, Frida Jansaker and Bryn Khoury.

SENIOR DAY: Elon’s three seniors have played an instrumental part in the success of the program throughout he last four seasons. The three have 60 wins since coming to Elon, which is the most of any singular senior class in program history. Together, the trio holds numerous accolades in the Elon record books. Johnston has a .702 winning percentage on the doubles circuit while amassing 59 victories. The mark is good for fifth all-time in Elon history. Jansaker sits fifth all-time in singles winning percentage .700 while holding the program record of a .756 winning percentage in doubles action. With 54 singles victories in her career, Khoury holds a .692 winning percentage, which is good for fifth all-time in Elon history.

Johnston is a three-time SoCon honoree and has taken home three SoCon Player of the Week awards in her career. She was also named the conference’s Freshman of the Year in 2011.

“Jordan has been a key leader on our team from the moment she stepped on campus her freshman year,” said Elon head coach #Elizabeth Anderson#. “Her strong work ethic and positive spirit have inspired everyone around her. She has been a huge part of our success and has been fun to coach.”

Jansaker has been named Academic All-SoCon three times during her career and has been earned All-SoCon team honors twice while picking up conference Player of the Week honors and Student-Athlete of the Week honors throughout her career with the Phoenix.

“Frida has improved so much throughout her time at Elon,” Anderson said. “It has been a joy to see all she has accomplished as a result of her strong work ethic and determination. She is one of the most intense competitors we have coached and brings so much energy to our team on a daily basis.”

Khoury has been named to the Academic All-SoCon team each season since arriving at Elon. She has also been an instrumental part in helping Elon win the ITA Team Academic award each of the last three seasons. Khoury also earned All-SoCon last season while posting a spectacular 22-4 mark.

“Bryn has given so much to Elon and has developed into a tremendous leader for our team,” Anderson said. “She sets a great example by her strong work ethic and always thinks of the team first. Bryn always knows the perfect way to inspire her teammates and bring out the best in everyone.”

ELON vs. WESTERN CAROLINA: Since the series between the Phoenix and Catamounts started in 2004, Elon holds a perfect 11-0 mark against Western Carolina. Last season, the Phoenix picked up a 7-0 sweep in Cullowhee, N.C. against the Catamounts.

LOOKING BACK: Yesterday, April 10, Elon clinched the No. 4 seed in a 6-1 victory on the road at UNC Greensboro. The Phoenix dropped the doubles point in the match, but recovered to sweep all six singles matches to claim the victory. The match broke a tie for fourth place in the conference, as both teams entered the day at 4-3 in SoCon play. Elon could face UNCG again next week in the quarterfinals of the SoCon Tournament.

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 9-8overall, 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: Elon will go to the SoCon Tournament next week as the No. 4 seed. The Phoenix will take on the No. 5 seed on Thursday, April 17, at 1 p.m. in Chattanooga, Tenn.