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.
Cross Country
Elon at Three Stripe Invitational, Saturday, Nov. 7, Cary, N.C.
• The Phoenix competed last Saturday, Oct. 31, at the Colonial Athletic Association Cross Country Championship meet at College of Charleston. Both the Elon men’s and women’s programs finished third overall in their respective races.
• Elon rookie Nick Ciolkowski captured the CAA individual title in the men’s 8K race, becoming the second Phoenix runner in as many years to earn a league individual championship. The Fairport, N.Y., native clocked in a time of 24:22.3 in the race and edged out the runner-up at the finish line. That time is the second-fastest performance in school history and Ciolkowski was named the CAA Most Outstanding Performer of the meet in the men’s race.
• In the women’s 6K race, junior Kimberly Johansen ran the second-best time in school history with a time of 20:58.0. Johansen finished sixth overall in the race, while senior Elyse Bierut set a new personal-best time of 21:03.8 and was eighth. Ciolkowski, Johansen and Bierut all received All-CAA honors for the meet.
Football (3-5, 2-3 CAA Football)
Inside the Huddle Luncheon, Monday, Nov. 2, at 12 p.m., Best Western Plus
Elon Football Live Radio Show, Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m., Alumni Gym
Elon vs. William & Mary, Saturday, Nov. 7, at 12 p.m., Rhodes Stadium (Comcast SportsNet)
• The Phoenix picked up its first-ever CAA Football road victory by downing Stony Brook 21-7 on Saturday. Fourth-quarter touchdowns from freshmen Jon Thomas and Malcolm Summers proved to be the difference.
• Elon’s defense intercepted four passes – one each by Asunji Maddos, Warren Messer, Chris Blair and Miles Williams. That marked the most interceptions by the Phoenix since picking off five passes against Chattanooga on Oct. 30, 2010.
• Elon returns to Rhodes Stadium to take on William & Mary this weekend. Kick is scheduled for noon and the game will air on Comcast SportsNet. A full list of stations showing the game will be announced later this week.
• In a change this week, Thursday’s Elon Football Live Radio Show will air from 6:30-7 p.m. Coach Rich Skrosky will join Taylor Durham courtside at Alumni Gym for 30 minutes prior to Elon’s men’s basketball exhibition contest.
Men’s Basketball
Elon vs. William Peace, Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m., Alumni Gym (exhibition)
• Elon begins the 2015-16 season with an exhibition game on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. against William Peace in Alumni Gym.
• The Phoenix is coming off a 2014-15 season finishing 15-18 overall and 6-12 in their inaugural season in the CAA. Tanner Samson set the single-season school record with 103 three-pointers made last season.
• The team is very young heading into the new season. Out of the 18 total players on the roster, 10 players are listed as a sophomore or a freshman.
Men’s Golf
Hummingbird Intercollegiate, Nov. 1-2, Country Club of Sapphire Valley, Cullowhee, N.C.
• Jared Mactas is tied for fifth individually and the Phoenix is in a tie for fourth after the first round of the Hummingbird Intercollegiate.
• Troy Beaver and Jake Leavitt are in the top-10 individually for Elon after the first round.
• The team has earned a top-10 finish in all three of the tournaments they have competed in this season. Elon finished seventh at the Golfweek Program Challenge, 10th at the VCU Shootout and fourth at the Elon Invitational.
Men’s Soccer (13-4, 6-2 CAA)
Elon vs. Radford, Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m., Rudd Field
• Elon closes out the regular-season with a make-up non-conference contest versus Radford on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Phoenix and the Highlanders originally were scheduled to play on Oct. 28, but had to reschedule due to inclement weather.
• The Phoenix clinched a share of the Colonial Athletic Association regular-season title with its 1-0 double-overtime win over College of Charleston on Saturday, Oct. 31. The win also earned the maroon and gold the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye for the upcoming CAA Tournament. Elon will play the winner between No. 3 Delaware and No. 6 UNCW on Friday, Nov. 13, in Hempstead, N.Y.
• With its win over the Cougars, Elon tied its Division I program-record with 13 wins. That feat has now been accomplished in three of the last four seasons. The Phoenix has also claimed a conference championship of some kind in four of the last five seasons.
Volleyball (6-20, 2-10 CAA)
Elon at College of Charleston, Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m., Charleston, S.C.
Elon at UNCW, Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m., Wilmington, N.C.
• The Phoenix posted its first sweep of a CAA team with a 3-0 win over William & Mary on Oct. 28 in Alumni Gym to make it three straight victories, including two this season, over the Tribe.
• Elon fell just short of claiming two wins last week, falling in five sets at Delaware on Halloween night.
• The Phoenix takes its final road trip of the regular season this weekend to face the Cougars of College of Charleston and Seahawks of UNCW.
Women’s Basketball
Elon vs. Winston-Salem State, Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m., Alumni Gym (exhibition)
• The Phoenix makes its unofficial start to the 2015-16 this weekend with an exhibition game against Winston-Salem State on Sunday in Alumni Gym.
• Last season, Elon finished 19-13 overall and 11-7 in Colonial Athletic Association play after advancing to the CAA Championship semifinals and earning an at-large bid to the WNIT.
• In the 2015 CAA Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll released on Tuesday, Elon was selected to finish fourth among the league’s 10 teams, while sophomore Shay Burnett was named to CAA Preseason All-Conference second team.