The Phoenix will take on Clemson at 2 p.m., Friday, May 11 in first round NCAA action at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. Details...
In semifinal action, top-seed Wake Forest (21-6) will face the Charlotte (17-8) at 11 a.m. Friday, May 11. With an overall record of 23-2, Elon is seeded third and will take on second-seed Clemson (30-9) at 2 p.m. that same day. Friday’s winners will meet at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12 with the winner advancing to the round of 16 the next weekend in Athens, Ga.
Elon, the Southern Conference regular season and tournament champion, sports a 1-1 record versus the regional field this season. The Phoenix fell to Wake Forest 5-2 on Feb. 3 and defeated Charlotte 5-2 on Feb. 22. Clemson and the Phoenix, currently riding a 14-match winning streak, will square off for the first time as NCAA Division I opponents.
Elon learned its fate at its NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship Selection Show party Tuesday afternoon at Wings To Go in Burlington. Nearly 100 spectators joined the Phoenix in viewing the live ESPNews announcement of the entire 64-team tournament field and 16 regional sites.
“We are extremely excited about this opportunity and to be playing so close to home,” Elon coach Michael Leonard said. “We have some of the best fans any team can ask for and we know that they are looking forward to joining us in nearby Winston-Salem next week.”
First Team All-SoCon selection Damon Gooch (17-4 at No. 1 this spring), First Team All-SoCon pick and SoCon Tournament MVP Anuwat Dalodom (18-3 at No. 2), Mason Schermerhorn (18-3 at No. 3), team co-captain Sebastian Bredberg (16-5 at No. 4), Second Team All-SoCon honoree Gustaf Asplund (18-3 at No. 5) and team co-captain and Second Team All-SoCon player Austin Fenn (18-4 at No. 6) lead the Phoenix.