Elon Volleyball Welcomes Tribe to Alumni Gym Wednesday

ELON, N.C. – After a weekend on the road, the Elon volleyball team (5-19, 1-9) returns home to Alumni Gym for a mid-week Colonial Athletic Association match against William & Mary (8-15, 2-8) on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m.

A Look at the Phoenix
Elon claimed the opening set at undefeated league-leader James Madison in its last match on Saturday but was not able to hold on as the Dukes claimed a 3-1 win. The Phoenix saw 12 kills from Kam Terry who hit .370 in the match. Sydney Busa followed with nine kills and fell just short of a double-double with a team-high nine digs, while Sydel Curry finished with 36 assists.

Scouting the Tribe
Like Elon, William & Mary dropped matches to both Towson and James Madison last weekend and is 8-15 overall on the season. The Tribe’s last win came on Oct. 12 in the form of a 3-0 final over Delaware. Carolyn Albright ranks sixth in the conference with a .285 hitting percentage and has tallied 151 kills on the season, while Dessi Koleva has recorded a team-high 228 kills. On defense, Sara Zumbach averages 3.61 digs per set with Albright posting 0.89 blocks/set.

Series History
The series between Elon and William & Mary dates back to 1974. The Tribe owns the advantage, by one match 4-3, with four of the seven matches being played in the last three years. The Phoenix has won the last two meetings, including a 3-1 victory on Oct. 17 in Williamsburg, Va.

Block Party
The Elon defense has been impressive at the net so far this season and is out-blocking opponents 195.5-149.5. The Phoenix has out-blocked the other team in 13 of its 22 matches this year and is averaging 2.2 blocks per set. The maroon and gold block has been led by Catherine Head and Ally Karle, who have each recorded career highs this season. Karle posted 11 blocks at Hofstra, which was the most by an Elon player since 2006, and ranks second on the program’s Division I single-match records list.

Head Coach Mary Tendler
Elon head coach Mary Tendler is in her 13th season with the Phoenix program. She enters Wednesday’s match with a 194-220 Elon and career coaching record.

One-on-One
With each match preview, elonphoenix.com will present at One-on-One feature with a member of the volleyball team. This week’s One-on-One is with freshman Kam Terry.

Follow the Phoenix
Fans can follow the Phoenix this weekend and through the season with updates on elonphoenix.com. Live stats for every volleyball match will be available on the team’s schedule and home pages on the Elon athletic website. In-game updates will also be provided on Twitter at @elonscores.

Looking Ahead
Elon travels to Newark, Del., to face the Blue Hens of Delaware in its next match on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.