Elon Phoenix Volleyball Takes on Aggies in Greensboro Tuesday

ELON, N.C. – After an exciting five-set win in its last match, the Elon volleyball team (1-1) is back in action on Tuesday, Aug. 30, to take on local opponent North Carolina A&T (1-3). The match is set for 7 p.m. in A&T’s Moore Gymnasium in Greensboro, N.C.

A Look at the Phoenix
Elon opened the season in the Charlotte Invitational with a 1-1 record, falling to host Charlotte before a five-set victory against Campbell. The Phoenix trailed 2-1 in the match, rallying to claim the fourth and fifth sets for the win. Kam Terry leads the team after two matches with 31 kills, averaging 3.44 kills/set, followed by 18 kills from Kayla Agae. Sydel Curry and Rox Wood are posting 7.75 and 5.83 assists per set, respectively. Terry, Curry and Wood all tallied double-doubles over the weekend. On defense, Maddie Jaudon recorded 38 digs to average 4.22 digs/set, while Ally Karle tallied 13 total blocks for 1.44/set. Both Terry and Agae were named to the Charlotte Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Scouting the Aggies
N.C. A&T is 1-3 after opening the season at the Alabama State SWAC/MEAC Tournament over the weekend. The Aggies claimed a sweep over Jackson State, while falling to Alabama State, Alabama A&M and Texas Southern. The matches against ASU and Alabama A&M both went to five sets. A&T’s Samara Brown is leading the team with 46 kills on the season, averaging 2.88 per set, and has already recorded 10 aces. Liz Martino is tallying 5.62 assists per set, while Keniah Rivera leads the team with 2.38 digs/set. Both Te’Borah Hawkins and Leila Haynesworth have recorded 10 total blocks so far on the year.

Series History

Elon and N.C. A&T have played one another since 1978. The Phoenix owns the advantage in the all-time series, 28-9, and has won the last nine meetings, dating back to 2007. The last six matches have all finished in a sweep for the maroon and gold.

Former Phoenix
Aggie head coach Hal Clifton was an assistant coach at Elon under Mary Tendler for six seasons from 2005-2011 before taking over the A&T program. He was one of the coaches of the Phoenix team that won the program’s first Southern Conference North Division title in 2010.

Head Coach Mary Tendler
Elon head coach Mary Tendler is in her 14th season with the Phoenix program. She enters Tuesday’s match with a 199-225 Elon and career coaching record.

Tendler Matchup
Tuesday’s match will also be a family affair for the Tendler family. Elon head coach Mary Tendler’s husband, Blaine, is an assistant coach for the Aggies. Blaine Tendler joined the A&T coaching staff this past June.

Follow the Phoenix
Fans can follow the Phoenix throughout 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
The next tournament the Phoenix competes in is the Tussle in the Triad on Friday, Sept. 2 – Saturday, Sept. 3. The tournament is tri-hosted by Elon, UNCG and High Point. The maroon and gold hosts its home opener on Friday, Sept. 2, in the tournament against Youngstown State in Alumni Gym at 7 p.m. The Phoenix returns to Alumni the next morning to host High Point on Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. before traveling to nearby Greensboro, N.C., that evening to take on UNCG at 7 p.m.