Elon’s Tendler Adds Three to 2015 Incoming Volleyball Class

ELON, N.C. – Elon head volleyball coach Mary Tendler has announced the addition of Maddie Jaudon (Batavia, Ill./Batavia), Erin Kelly (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft) and Rox Wood (Eads, Tenn./St. George’s Independent School) to her 2015 incoming freshmen class.

“I’m very excited to welcome all three of these student-athletes and their families to Elon University and our volleyball program,” said Tendler. “Each one is going to fill a position that we need to make our volleyball team better as we move into our second season in the Colonial Athletic Association this fall.”

Jaudon, a 5-6 defensive specialist, was a three-year varsity starter at Batavia High School and named the team MVP as a senior. After being named the team’s rookie of the year in 2012, she earned first team all-state, all-conference and all-area honors in 2014. Off the court, she earned academic all-conference honors in 2012, 2013 and 2014, was named an Illinois State Scholar and is a member of National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society. Jaudon also helped the Sports Performance club volleyball team to a national championship in the 18 Open division in 2014 and in the 16 Classic division in 2013. Madison (Maddie) is the daughter of Ron and Cindy Jaudon.

“Maddie comes to Elon with an enormous amount of high level playing experience at both the high school and club level,” said Tendler. “Her transition to collegiate volleyball will be very smooth. She will provide us with a very good level of both athleticism and skill in the back court.”

Kelly, a 5-11 defensive specialist/outside hitter, was a four-year member of the varsity team at Ravenscroft, which reached the state quarterfinals in 2013. A two-year captain, she earned all-conference honors in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and was named to the all-state team as a senior in 2014. Prior to being named the team’s MVP after her senior season, Kelly earned the team’s coach’s award her sophomore and junior years. She was also a captain and starter for NC Elite 18 Black and helped the club team to the 2014 Atlantic Coast Power League Championship. Erin is the daughter of former Yale basketball player Chris and former Penn volleyball player Doreen Kelly. Her oldest brother, Ryan, played collegiate basketball at Duke and currently plays for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, while her other brother, Sean, is currently a member of the Duke men’s basketball team. Kelly’s sister-in-law, Lindsay Cowher Kelly, is a 2013 Elon graduate.

“Erin is very competitive and has a great work ethic,” said Tendler. “She will bring that intensity to every practice and every match. Erin can play multiple positions in the backcourt and even step in at an outside hitter position. I like her versatility.”

Wood, a 6-0 setter, was a three-time MVP and team captain at St. George’s Independent School. She holds the school records for assists in a match (53), kills in a match (27), season kills (594), career kills (1,691) and career digs (1,563). Wood helped St. George’s to a Div. II-A state championship in 2010 and 2011, a state runner-up title in 2013 and a third place finish in 2014. The team also won the Div. II-A regional championship in 2010 and 2014. She was named to the TSWA all-state team in 2012 and 2013 and earned honorable mention in 2011. Wood was selected as an AVCA Phenom in 2012 and 2013 and named a Prep Volleyball Frosh 59 in 2011. Roxanna (Rox) is the daughter or Brian and Rebecca Wood.

“Rox decided very early on that she wanted to come to Elon and it is a perfect fit,” said Tendler. “Rox’s accuracy at the setter position combined with her leadership skills will be very beneficial to our team. With her height, she can also put up a good block on the right side.”

Jaudon, Kelly and Wood will be eligible to player for the Phoenix beginning in the fall of 2015.