Elon Athletics Weekly Update

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.

Baseball (3-0)
Elon vs. High Point, Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m., Latham Park
Elon Invitational
Elon vs. South Dakota State, Friday, Feb. 20, at 12 p.m., Latham Park
Elon vs. Ball State, Saturday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m., Latham Park
Elon vs. Indiana State, Sunday, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m., Latham Park

• The Phoenix began 2015 with a three-game sweep of Penn State. Senior catcher/DH Chris King drove in eight runs, had three doubles and one homer to lead the Elon offense. Senior lefty Jake Stalzer struck out a career-best seven hitters and allowed just two hits in 6.2 innings in game two of the series.
• Elon’s 3-0 start is its first since 2012.
• Elon is slated to play four games at home this week, beginning with Wednesday’s 4 p.m. bout with Triad rival High Point. Elon has played High Point more than any other opponent. In fact, the two have played 206 times before with the maroon and gold holding a 123-83 advantage in the all-time series. The Panthers took two of the three meetings in 2014.
• Of the three teams that Elon will play at the Elon Invitational, just one is a new opponent. Elon has never played South Dakota State, but is 0-1 against Ball State and 1-1 against Indiana State.

Men’s Basketball (11-16, 3-11 CAA)
Elon at College of Charleston, Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m., Charleston, S.C.
Elon at Delaware, Saturday, Feb. 21, at 12:30 p.m., Newark, Del.

• Elon hits the road for its next two games, beginning on Wednesday night at conference rival CofC.
• Tanner Samson sits at 82 made threes this season, which is tied with Jack Isenbarger for the most in a single season by an Elon player. Isenbarger hit 82 in 2012-13, helping lead Elon to the Southern Conference North Division title.
• Elijah Bryant had a stellar week for the Phoenix last week, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Bryant is averaging 15.0 points per game against CAA foes this season.

Men’s Tennis (3-6)
Elon vs. Winthrop, Friday, Feb. 20, at 2 p.m., Jimmy Powell Tennis Center
Elon vs. UNC Wilmington, Sunday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m., Jimmy Powell Tennis Center

• The 66th-ranked Phoenix opened a 12-match home stand with wins against Campbell (5-2), North Carolina A&T (6-1) and Presbyterian (6-1). Elon is now 19-4 over the past two seasons at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
• Josh Luck won the first two matches of his career Feb. 14. The freshman defeated A&T’s Dre Jarmon, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 1 singles and clinched Elon’s match against Presbyterian with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over Diego Manzanas at No. 4 singles.
• Elon’s top doubles duo of Stefan Fortmann and Brian Kowalski extended their winning streak to four matches with an 8-5 win against Campbell’s Steven Billington and Jonathan O’Neal.

Softball (3-4)
Elon vs. Campbell, Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m., Hunt Softball Park
Phoenix Opening Tournament
Elon vs. Youngstown State, Saturday, Feb. 21, at 12 p.m., Hunt Softball Park
Elon vs. UMBC, Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2:15 p.m., Hunt Softball Park
Elon vs. La Salle (DH), Sunday, Feb. 22, at 12/2:15 p.m., Hunt Softball Park

• The Phoenix has a five-game slate this week at home beginning with a single game against Campbell on Wednesday followed by the Phoenix Opening Tournament from Feb. 20-22.
• Freshmen Kiandra Mitchum and Hannah Olson were honored by the Colonial Athletic Association last week as the pair were named the league’s Pitcher and Rookie of the Week, respectively. Mitchum had two wins and an ERA of 1.75, while Olson led the team with a .500 batting average and three stolen bases.
• The maroon and gold welcomes the field of Youngstown State, UMBC and La Salle to its first home tournament this weekend. The Phoenix has faced both YSU and UMBC in recent seasons.

Women’s Basketball (14-10, 7-6 CAA)
Elon at Northeastern, Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m., Boston
Elon vs. William & Mary, Sunday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m., Alumni Gym

• Elon struggled last week dropping two home games by a combined six points to UNCW and Hofstra.
• The Phoenix travels to Boston on Thursday to take on Northeastern after claimed a three-point win, 80-77, in overtime a few weeks in Alumni Gym against the Huskies.
• Elon returns home to Alumni on Sunday to host William & Mary for the first time since 2003. The maroon and gold only has two home games remaining this season.

Women’s Lacrosse (2-1)
Elon at Jacksonville, Friday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m., Jacksonville, Fla.
Elon at Stetson, Sunday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m., Deland, Fla.

• Elon rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take a 10-7 win in its last game at Longwood. The Phoenix outscored the Lancers 5-2 in the second half to improve to 2-0 all-time against Longwood.
• Rookie Stephanie Asher continued her strong play with another four goals against the Lancers, along with five ground balls, two caused turnovers and one draw control.
• The Phoenix travels south to Florida this weekend to take on a pair of former Atlantic Sun opponents in Jacksonville and Stetson. Last season, Elon claimed an 18-6 victory against the Hatters, while dropping a game against the Dolphins, 17-4.

Women’s Tennis (3-4)
Elon vs. USC-Upstate, Friday, Feb. 20, at 2:30 p.m., Jimmy Powell Tennis Center

• Elon went 2-0 this past Saturday, facing off against North Carolina A&T and Washington & Lee. The Phoenix defeated both opponents without giving up one point to either team.
• With the 7-0 victory over A&T, Elon adds to their 14-match streak of not giving up a point to the Bulldogs.
• The Phoenix faces off against South Carolina Upstate this Friday, Feb. 20, at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

Women’s Track and Field
Elon at Virginia Tech Challenge, Friday – Saturday, Feb. 20 – 21, Blacksburg, Va.

• Elon travels to Blacksburg, Va., for its final indoor meet of the regular season, the Virginia Tech Challenge, this weekend, Feb. 20-21.
• Last week, the majority of the Phoenix competed at the High Point Team Challenge. Elon had four event titles and a number of individual standout performances at the meet.
• Freshman Bryanna Hames had the second-best throw in school history in the shot put with a toss of 13.56m at the High Point meet. Sophomore Kimberly Johansen broke her third indoor school record of the year as the Chelmsford, England, native ran a time of 2:12.97 in the 800-meters. Both athletes qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Indoor Championships.
• A few members of the distance team also competed last Friday, Feb. 13, at the SPIRE Division I Indoor Meet in Geneva, Ohio. Redshirt sophomore Elyse Bierut ran the second-fastest time in the 5,000-meters with a time of 17:11.09. Senior Jenny Gallagher also set a new personal-best with a time of 17:40.55 in the race, as well as third-best performance in school history. Bierut’s time qualified her for the ECACs in the event.