Elon Volleyall Phoenix Faces Blue Hens in Halloween Match

ELON, N.C. – The Elon volleyball team (6-19, 2-9) looks to keep its winning streak going this weekend as it travels to Newark, Del., to take on the Delaware Blue Hens (11-12, 3-7) for a match on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.

A Look at the Phoenix
Elon posted its first sweep of a Colonial Athletic Association team with 3-0 victory over William & Mary in its last match on Wednesday in Alumni Gym. The Phoenix saw a team-high 12 kills and two aces from Kam Terry, while Sydney Busa fell just shy of a double-double with nine kills and 11 digs. Sydel Curry tallied 30 assists and eight digs and also finished with three kills off five attempts and had no errors. On defense, Elon out-blocked W&M, 5-2, with the help of four blocks from Michelle Klein, while Kayla Agae led the way with 13 digs.

Scouting the Blue Hens
Delaware has won two of its last three, including two straight with victories over Northeastern and at Towson. The Blue Hens are 11-12 on the season and 3-7 in CAA play. UD libero Ariel Shonk leads the conference and ranks 13th in the nation in digs per set with 5.25. Alexa Swann and Chandler Bryant sit fourth and fifth in the CAA in hitting percentage with .323 and .312 marks, respectively. In conference only matches, Swann is second in the league with a .327 hitting percentage and ranks fourth in blocks with 1.13 per set.

Series History
Elon and Delaware have only met three times previously with all matches coming last year and earlier this season. The Blue Hens have won each match for a 3-0 series advantage.

Block Party
The Elon defense has been impressive at the net so far this season and is out-blocking opponents 200.5-151.5. The Phoenix has out-blocked the other team in 14 of its 25 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 Saturday’s match with a 195-220 Elon and career coaching record.

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. The match against on Saturday on will be streamed on by Delaware.

Looking Ahead
The Phoenix remains on the road as it travels to Charleston, S.C., and Wilmington, N.C., next weekend. Elon takes on College of Charleston on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. before a match at UNCW on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.