DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team will begin a stretch of 12 matches in 16 days with three contests in the Elon University Phoenix Classic on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4-5. There is no admission cost at the Phoenix Classic.
 
NCCU Sports Network broadcaster Mike Wood will be on air for an audio webcast of all three matches that is accessible on the NCCU's official athletics website at www.NCCUEaglePride.com. Live stats will be provided for each tilt provided by Elon (each match has a different link) and a live video stream will be available for just the NCCU at Elon match.
 
Elon Phoenix Schedule
 
4:30 PM - Friday, September 4
NCCU vs. Wake Forest University
LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS
SERIES: Wake Forest has defeated NCCU twice (both times at home in Winston-Salem, N.C.), including a 3-0 victory in the Wake Forest Deacon Invitational last season (modern era since 2007).
 
12:30 PM – Saturday, September 5
NCCU at Elon University
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS
SERIES: Elon is a perfect 8-0 against NCCU since 2007, including a 3-0 win in Durham last year.
 
4:30 PM – Saturday, September 5
NCCU vs. Charleston Southern University
LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS
SERIES: NCCU defeated Charleston Southern in its first DI meeting against Charleston Southern back in 2007 but has since dropped six consecutive matches to the Buccaneers, including twice in 2014.
 
North Carolina Central University Volleyball
 
The Lady Eagles dropped their fourth consecutive match to start the season on Tuesday as NCCU (0-4) lost its home opener to East Carolina University in straight sets.
 
NCCU has hit well in its last two matches to move its team hitting percentage just above .100 at .101. A quartet of Lady Eagles continue to produce most of NCCU's offense featuring junior Kelsey Murphy (39 kills, 3.25 k/s), freshman Sydney Sumner (29, 2.42), senior Kelly Rossip (20, 1.67) and freshman Whitney White (16, 1.33).
 
Junior Casey Curran (6.11 assists/set) and sophomore Paige Phillips (3.00) have shared majority of the setting responsibility so far this season.
 
The young Lady Eagles lineup will be trying to sharpen up on defense after allowing their foes to serve up 33 total aces (2.75 aces/set) and hit .270 through four matches. Freshman Tamika Brekke paces NCCU's back row with 4.17 digs per set. Up front, White has a team-best six blocks.
 
NCCU returns to the Elon Phoenix Classic for the fourth time in five years, but will be playing in the event for the first time under second year head coach Nicki Holmes after not competing in it in 2014.
 
Wake Forest University Volleyball
 
The Demon Deacons opened up the season at the Rambler Challenge hosted by Loyola Chicago. Wake Forest (1-2) picked up a win against the host Ramblers sandwiched around losses to Northwestern and New Hampshire. The ACC member school posted a .500 mark of 16-16 last season in head coach Ken Murczek's second season with the program.
 
Middle blocker Matalee Reed had an impressive start to her senior season posting 45 kills in the Rambler Challenge for an average of 4.50 kills per set. Reed, who hit .391 for the event, led the Demon Deacons in blocks last season.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Kylie Long is backing up her ACC All-Freshman Team selection from last year with 3.20 kills per set and 2.90 digs per sets in 2015. Classmate Caroline Wolf joined Long on the ACC All-Freshman Team last season as a libero and currently leads Wake Forest with 3.90 digs per set.
 
Junior setter Sophia Dodd is averaging 10.20 assists per set for a Demon Deacon squad that is hitting .211 on the season. Senior Sam Boesch has chipped in 2.00 kills per set and freshman Katie Moore has made an immediate impact on the front row with nine blocks (three solo, six assists).
 
Elon University Volleyball
 
The Phoenix are winless in their first four matches but have taken their last two opponents – Radford and High Point – to five sets. Elon (0-4) will play Charleston Southern on Friday before battling the Lady Eagles on Saturday.
 
Head coach Mary Tendler is nine wins shy of 200 career victories entering her 13th season at Elon, but the Phoenix are coming off their worst campaign under Coach Tendler with a 6-26 mark in 2014.
 
Seniors Megan Gravley and Catherine Head have played in majority of the teams matches over their four-year collegiate careers at Elon and are the primary scorers for the Phoenix as the only two players averaging over two points per set. Gravley gets most of her points on the attack averaging 2.94 kills per set while Head is the team's primary blocker averaging 1.19 blocks per set to go along with 1.31 kills per set.
 
Sophomore setter Sydel Curry is averaging 6.56 assists per set and freshman defensive specialist Maddie Jaudon has jumped in as the team's leader with 4.00 digs per set.
 
Charleston Southern University Volleyball
 
The Buccaneers dropped three matches in the Big Orange Bash at Clemson but got in the win column with a dominating victory over Savannah State University in the team's home opener on Tuesday. Charleston Southern (1-3) went 11-22 last season in head coach Christy Mooberry's second campaign at the helm in 2014.
 
CSU has a trio of seniors leading its offense. Siraya Windsor ranked in the top-10 of the Big South in kills and aces last season and is continuing that pace averaging 3.18 kills per set and 0.27 aces per set over four matches in 2015. Katrina Houston and Meredith Parrott follow Windsor with 2.62 and 1.85 kills per set, respectively.
 
Senior Cassidy Greer (5.00 assists/set) and sophomore Brooke Green (3.92) have shared the setting responsibilities for the Buccaneers. Senior libero Ashley Higginbothem highlights CSU's defense with 5.54 digs per set.