ELON, N.C. – Every Monday, Phoenix fans can get a look at the week ahead with our “Elon Athletics Weekly Update” feature when we will preview all the week’s upcoming events for our sports teams. “Follow us” on Twitter at @elonphoenix and @elonscores, “Like” Elon Phoenix on Facebook and continue to check elonphoenix.com to stay current on all things Elon Athletics.
Cross Country
Elon at Adidas Cross Country Challenge, Friday, Sept. 19, Cary, N.C.
• The Elon cross country programs travel to Cary, N.C., on Friday, Sept. 19, for the Adidas Cross Country Challenge, hosted by NC State.
• The Phoenix swept its home meet, the Elon Invitational, last Saturday. The Phoenix men won its third straight Elon Invitational title while the women won its third out of its last four home meets.
• Elon’s Jenny Gallagher and Luis Vargas captured individualists honors in their respective races on Saturday, the women’s 5K and the men’s 8K. Gallagher became the first Elon female runner to take first in a race since 2011 with her new personal-best time of 17:55. Vargas won the men’s race for the second straight year at the Elon Invitational with his time of 25:19.
Football (0-2)
Inside the Huddle Luncheon, Monday, Sept. 15, at noon, Best Western Plus
Elon Football Live Radio Show, Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m., Fat Frogg Bar & Grill
Elon vs. Charlotte, Saturday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m., Rhodes Stadium (American Sports Network)
• Fans can preview this weekend’s game against Charlotte at either the Inside the Huddle Luncheon on Monday or at the Elon Football Live Radio Show on Thursday. The luncheon is held from noon until 1 p.m. at the Best Western Plus on Huffman Mill Road in Burlington and the cost to attend is $10 and includes a catered lunch by Grill 584. The radio show is broadcast live from the Fat Frogg Bar & Grill in Elon on Thursday from 7-8 p.m. and can be heard live on WPCM 95.1 FM and 920 AM as well as at elonphoenix.com.
• Senior quarterback Mike Quinn threw for 253 yards against North Carolina A&T on Saturday to move his career passing total to 3,208 yards. Quinn is the ninth quarterback in program history to eclipse the 3,000 yard mark.
• Senior linebacker Jonathan Spain tallied 10 tackles against the Aggies to move into fifth place on the program’s NCAA Division I career chart. Spain has 261 career stops and is just four shy of moving into Elon’s all-time top-10 list.
• The Phoenix will host second-year program Charlotte on Saturday. The 49ers come to Rhodes Stadium with a 3-0 record for the first meeting between the two programs.
Men’s Golf
Elon at Rees Jones Invitational, Sunday – Tuesday, Sept. 21 – 23, Daufuskie Island, S.C.
• The Phoenix opened its 2014 fall slate by tying for fourth out of 18 programs at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate over the weekend.
• Thanks to a career-best final round 65 (-7), Will DiIanni tied for 14th out of 100 golfers in the event. His brother Jonathan finished in a tie for 23rd.
• Elon will travel to South Carolina for the Rees Jones Invitational, which is co-hosted by Kennesaw State and CAA rival UNC Wilmington for its next event. The tournament gets underway on Sunday and runs through Tuesday.
Men’s Soccer (3-2-1)
Elon at Radford, Saturday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m., Radford, Va.
•Elon visits Radford this Saturday, Sept. 20, in the Phoenix’s lone match of the week. The maroon and gold defeated the Highlanders 1-0 in last year’s meeting in Elon.
• The Phoenix went 1-0-1 this week with both matches coming at home. Elon battled FIU to a scoreless draw on Wednesday in its 2014 home opener before rebounding to earn a 1-0 victory over West Virginia on Sunday night.
• Senior goalkeeper Nathan Dean posted his 20th career shutout on Sunday against the Mountaineers, moving into sole possession of second-place all-time in school history. The Liverpool, England, native trails only current Colorado Rapids keeper Clint Irwin on the all-time career clean sheet list at Elon.
Men’s Tennis
Charlotte Invitational, Sept. 19-21, Charlotte, N.C.
• Elon’s fall campaign rolls into the Queen City this weekend for the Charlotte Invitational, Friday – Sunday, Sept. 19. The tournament is hosted by the Charlotte 49ers.
• Elon had a solid showing in its debut at the Duke Fab Four over last weekend. Stefan Fortmann and Josh Luck both earned impressive singles wins for the Phoenix in the tournament.
Volleyball (3-7)
Elon vs. North Carolina A&T, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m., Alumni Gym
Deacon Classic
Elon vs. Western Carolina, Friday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m., Winston-Salem, N.C.
Elon vs. Winthrop, Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m., Winston-Salem, N.C.
Elon at Wake Forest, Saturday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m., Winston-Salem, N.C.
• The Phoenix defeated local rival High Point in a five-set match earlier last week before suffering a few setbacks over the weekend at the Hampton Inn & Suites of Holly Springs Invitational. Kayla Agae was named to the all-tournament team for her performance.
• Elon will play another mid-week match this week with a contest against North Carolina A&T on Wednesday. The Phoenix will once again face the Aggies and its head coach Hal Clifton, who was an Elon assistant coach from 2005-10.
• The Phoenix will conclude tournament play this weekend at the Deacon Classic in Winston-Salem, N.C. Elon play former Southern Conference foe Western Carolina, Winthrop and host Wake Forest.
Women’s Golf
Elon at W&M Invitational, Monday – Tuesday, Sept. 15 – 16, Williamsburg, Va.
• The Elon women’s golf team opened its season with the first round of the W&M Invitational on Sunday by shooting a 300 to lead the 13-team field.
• Freshman Heather Munro carded a one-over par 73 and is tied for second individually after one round, just one stroke back of the leader.
• The Phoenix is facing three fellow CAA programs in this event – Towson, UNC Wilmington and host William & Mary.
Women’s Soccer (3-4)
Elon vs. Gardner-Webb, Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., Rudd Field
• Elon returns home from a five-match road swing on Friday, Sept. 19, to host Gardner-Webb. The match will be broadcasted live on Phoenix All-Access.
• Elon went unbeaten at the UNCW Hilton Garden Inn Mayfaire Invitational over the weekend, topping Coastal Carolina, 1-0, and Francis Marion, 3-1.
• Elon head coach Chris Neal picked up his 99th career victory as a head coach with Sunday’s win versus Francis Marion.