ELON, N.C. ? Head Elon University volleyball coach Mary Tendler has announced the schedule for the 2009 volleyball season. The schedule includes matches against three teams who won conference championships and 16 Southern Conference matches.
“We have two fewer Southern Conference matches this fall, allowing us to play additional non-conference opponents,” Tendler said. “The matches prior to league play will be critical to our conference championship run. During that 13-match stretch, we will face both of the co-champions from the Big South Conference. We have tried to schedule teams that will challenge us in all areas of the game.”
The Phoenix opens its season August 28 at 11 p.m. when it takes on South Carolina State at the Hilton RTP/NCCU Tournament hosted by North Carolina Central. Elon, who is making its second straight appearance in the tournament, will also face UNC Wilmington, UNC Asheville and N.C. Central during the competition. Elon took home the tournament title last season.
Elon returns to Alumni Gym on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. to face UNC Charlotte in the first home match of the season. The Phoenix will then take to the road, traveling to Lynchburg, Va., for the Liberty Invitational Sept. 4-5 where it will face teams from Howard, East Tennessee State and Liberty.
The Phoenix will continue its road trip Sept. 9 against the Big South co-champion High Point Panthers.
Elon will welcome Navy, Georgia State and Norfolk State to Alumni Gym for the annual Elon Volleyball Classic Sept. 18-19.
Conference play begins September 26 when Elon travels to Chattanooga, Tenn., to face the Lady Mocs before heading to Birmingham, Ala., for a showdown against Samford on Sept. 27.
Appalachian State visits Alumni Gym on Oct. 2 for the first league home match. The Phoenix will host Western Carolina the following day at 3 p.m.
A pair of away matches at UNC Greensboro and Furman, the 2008 Southern Conference Tournament champion, precede home contests against Georgia Southern on Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. and Davidson on Oct. 18 at 2 p.m.
Elon will return to the road for a three-match road trip that begins Oct. 20 and includes matches against non-conference foes Winston-Salem State, The Citadel and the defending regular-season SoCon champion College of Charleston.
Division rivals Samford and Chattanooga come to Elon Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, while nearby UNC Greensboro is scheduled to come to Alumni Gym on Nov. 4. The Phoenix close out its home season with a 2 p.m. match against Wofford on Nov. 7.
The Phoenix begins its final road trip of the season on Nov. 10 with a 6 p.m. match against N.C. A&T. Elon will face Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. before closing out the regular season with a 3 p.m. contest against Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C.
2009 Schedule