ELON, N.C. – Following two matches on the road, Elon University men’s tennis will open a five-match homestand on Thursday, March 2, at Jimmy Powell Tennis Center when it takes on in-state foe Campbell at 2 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Phoenix were swept for just the second time this season when the team dropped a 7-0 decision on the road in New Haven, Conn., to Yale. After winning four matches in a row at home from Feb. 8 to Feb. 19, Elon dropped both road matches last weekend with the loss to Yale and a 5-2 loss at Brown.
SERIES HISTORY
All-time, Elon holds a stellar 6-1 record against Campbell. The two last met in 2015 with the Phoenix earning a 5-2 win on Feb. 11 in Elon. The Phoenix is 6-0 against the Camels since 2001 after dropping the first-ever match between the two, 4-3, in Elon’s first match as a Division I team on Feb. 17, 2000.
SCOUTING CAMPBELL
The Camels are off to a stellar start this year with a 9-1 record through 10 matches. Campbell’s one loss came back on Jan. 20 in Richmond, Va., a 4-1 neutral-site loss to Charlotte. Since, the Camels have been perfect in the last eight matches, including a perfect 7-0 record in February. Throughout the month of February, Campbell won every match in dominating fashion by only dropping more than one point on just one occasion.
BACK TO BACK
Petar Tomic and Chris Humphreys won CAA Doubles Team of the Week honor in back-to-back weeks on Feb. 15 and Feb. 22. During a strong two weeks from the team, the two went 4-0 at Nos. 1 and 2. Earlier this season on Feb. 15, Elon swept the weekly awards with Felipe Sarrasague earning CAA Player of the Week.
ANOTHER LOOK AT 2016
The Phoenix posted a 17-6 record throughout 2016, which included a 12-3 mark in matches played at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. After losing three of the team’s first five matches of the season to No. 13 Duke, No. 40 NC State and No. 1 Virginia, Elon went 14-2 in its final 16 regular-season matches. The run included a seven-match winning streak from March 11 to April 3 and was capped with a win over No. 62 William & Mary. Elon dropped a 4-3 decision in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament to College of Charleston to finish the season.
RISING STARS
True freshmen played a big role in Elon’s 2016 success. Taylor Foote (1), Salvador Mijares (13), Felipe Osses-Konig (6), Mario Paccini (13) and Felipe Sarrasague (15) combined for 48 of the team’s 86 singles wins (56 percent) over the course of 2016. Sarrasague and senior Robert Lindgren led Elon with a team-high 15 dual-match singles wins.
HEAD COACH MICHAEL LEONARD
Winner of the 2016 CAA Coach of the Year award, Michael Leonard is now in his 13th season as Elon’s director of tennis and head men’s tennis coach. Leonard is a five-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year and has led Elon to five conference championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances, the last coming in 2014. He has won 189 matches to date as the leader of the Phoenix.
NEXT TIME OUT
Elon will remain at home for the second match of its homestand when it welcomes North Florida to the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center on Sunday, March 5. First serve against the Ospreys is set for 11 a.m.