ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men’s tennis squad seeks its eighth straight victory as they host the College of Charleston on Wednesday, April 6, at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. The match will begin at 3 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Elon (14-4) toppled 52nd-ranked William & Mary, 5-2, on Sunday, April 3, at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. Felipe Sarrasague clinched the victory at the No. 1 singles position. For the Phoenix, it was its first win against a ranked opponent this season and first since defeating No. 65 Samford on Jan. 24, 2015. The match was the seventh straight victory for Elon.
SCOUTING CHARLESTON
College of Charleston enters match with a 13-6 overall record and have won five of its last six matches. The Cougars split a doubleheader on Sunday, April 3, with a 4-1 loss to No. 52-ranked Georgia State and a 6-1 victory over the Citadel.
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday marks the 17th meeting between the Phoenix and the Cougars during Elon’s Division I era. The Phoenix leads the all-time series 9-7. Both teams met last season on March 24, 2015 and Elon prevailed with a 4-3 victory in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
HOME COOKING
The Phoenix has impressed on its home court to begin the season. Elon holds a 8-1 record at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center and a 9-1 home record overall. Since the beginning of the 2013 spring season, the Phoenix has achieved a home record of 31-8.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
True freshmen have been carrying a heavy load for the Phoenix so far this season. Taylor Foote (1), Salvador Mijares (12), Felipe Osses-Konig (3), Mario Paccini (9) and Felipe Sarrasague (11) have combined for 36 of the team’s 68 singles wins through 17 matches. Mijares has a freshman-high 12 singles wins, while Sarrasague has 11 and Paccini has nine victories.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix returns home on Sunday, April 10, hosting Furman at 1 p.m. at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. The match will be a SAAC Food Drive event to collect nonperishable food items and monetary donations. All food items and gifts collected will go to Allied Churches of Alamance County.
HEAD COACH MICHAEL LEONARD
Michael Leonard is in his 12th season as Elon’s director of tennis and head men’s tennis coach. Leonard is a five-time winner of the Southern Conference Coach of the Year award and has led the program to five conference championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
2016 CAA TOURNAMENT
Elon was selected to host the 2016 Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships, which will be held April 21-24 at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center and the Burlington Tennis Center. It will mark the first-ever CAA Tournament hosted by the Phoenix and first conference tournament hosted by the program since the 2013 SoCon Tournament.