ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s tennis team returns to the court this weekend for a pair of matches. The Phoenix hosts South Carolina State on Friday, Jan. 19, at the Starmount Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. for a 1 p.m. match, and then travels to Williamsburg to play William & Mary on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 1p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Phoenix earned a season-opening doubleheader sweep on Monday, Jan. 16, with perfect 7-0 victories over North Carolina A&T and Radford at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
EARLY SUCCESS
Monday’s season-opening action marked the first dual match appearances for Phoenix newcomers Alex Koniaev and Sofia Edo. The duo went a combined 6-0 in singles and doubles play. Maria Paraja also had a solid outing finishing 3-0 in singles and doubles action.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Both South Carolina State and William & Mary will open their 2017 seasons against the Phoenix. South Carolina State finished 8-11 overall last season and won the MEAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The reigning 2016 CAA Champions finished the 2016 season ranked No. 39 in the final ITA Rankings.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday’s contest wll be the fourth all-time meeting between the Phoenix and the Bulldogs. Elon leads the series 2-1 and has won the last two matchups. South Carolina’s lone victory came in 2011.
Sunday’s match will mark the second-ever match between the Phoenix and Tribe since Elon entered the Division I ranks. William & Mary won last season’s first-ever meeting, 6-1, in Greensboro. Sunzanne Zenoni earned Elon’s lone point with a win at No. 5 singles. The matchup is the first of five CAA teams that Elon will face in 2017 in preparation for the conference tournament in April.
UP NEXT
Elon’s match at William & Mary begins a four-match swing away from home. The Phoenix faces Duke and Meredith College on Jan. 25 in Durham, N.C.
HEAD COACH ELIZABETH ANDERSON
Elizabeth Anderson is in her 13th season as head coach of the Phoenix. Anderson has led Elon to five straight seasons of 14 or more wins and guided the program to its first NCAA Tournament in 2014.