Elon Volleyball Travels Across I-40 For Deacon Classic

ELON, N.C. – After a match sweep of North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, the Elon volleyball team (4-7) travels West across I-40 for the Deacon Classic against host Wake Forest (8-2), Western Carolina (5-5) and Winthrop (6-6) this weekend in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Phoenix plays the Catamounts on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m. before facing the Eagles and the Demon Deacons on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.

Looking Back
Elon got back in the win column on Wednesday with a 3-0 (25-20-25-22, 25-12) victory over the Aggies of A&T. Kayla Agae recorded her fourth double-double and second straight of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs. Chelsea Rafetto also earned a double-double with 24 assists and 10 digs, while Morgan Maner tallied a match-high 15 digs.

Deacon Classic
The Elon program’s first ever match was against Wake Forest in October of 1972. The Phoenix renews the series with the Deacons on Saturday for the 25th meeting with the teams last playing back in 2001. Elon and WCU are familiar opponents after years as conference rivals in the Southern Conference, while the series against the Catamounts also dates back to 1972. Since 2004, the two teams have played 19 times with the Phoenix winning 16 of those matches. Last season, Elon won 3-1 in Alumni Gym. The maroon and gold plays the Eagles for the 20th time on Saturday morning with Winthrop claiming the last contest the teams played in 2011, 3-1.

Head Coach Mary Tendler
Elon head coach Mary Tendler is in her 12th season with the Phoenix program. She enters this weekend with a 189-182 Elon and career record.

Looking Ahead
Elon remains on the road to play at North Carolina Central on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The Phoenix and the Eagles will play at 7 p.m. in Durham, N.C.