| W&M (0-0, 0-0 CAA) vs. Elon (0-1, 0-0 AAC) |
| Date |
Friday, Feb. 26, Saturday Feb. 27 | 7 p.m. |
| Location |
Kaplan Arena | Williamsburg, Va. |
| Live Stats |
Stats |
| Live Video |
Stretch |
| Social Media |
WMTribeVB |
| Stats |
William & Mary | Elon |
| Schedule/Results |
William & Mary | Elon |
WILLIAMSBURG, VA.- After 467 long and difficult days, William & Mary volleyball will take the floor for the spring 2021 opener with Elon (0-1) Friday night at Kaplan Arena. The Tribe and the Phoenix will meet again at Kaplan Arena Saturday evening, both games are slated for 7 p.m. starts.
To limit travel, the CAA has split the league into two divisions that will play in a round robin back to back format. William & Mary has been paired with Elon, UNCW, James Madison, and College of Charleston.
"We're talking about "letting it out" as a team. Not just the energy of returning to competition and the thrill of getting back out there together but letting out the emotions of the past year", Tribe coach
Tim Doyle said. "When you're tired after a long rally, or celebrating a great play, or even reminding yourself "no big deal" after an error, we have genuinely difficult moments from the past year to recall that will keep us grounded and remind us to simply let it out every play."
The Tribe welcomes back 11 players from the 2019 roster and adds impact freshmen
Sabrina Malcolm and
Maddie Meyers. Of the eleven returners, two,
Madeleine Bertz and
Sydney Taylor are looking to take advantage of a clear bill of health after suffering season-ending injuries early in the 2019 campaign.
Coach Doyle referenced his team's hunger prior to the season-opening pair of matches, "Hunger is one of our three core virtues we came up with as a team in the spring of 2020 (Humble and Intentional being the other two), so this entire spring fits who we are."
The third-year head coach went on to describe his team as, "older, better, deeper, and ready to go. We have a profound appreciation for just being together as a team and playing our sport. The team is as hungry as ever, to showcase the hard work they've put in."
An all-Caa schedule will mean facing familiar foes week in and week out. The Tribe will start the season looking for revenge after dropping a pair of tight matches with Elon in the fall of 2019. William & Mary holds a 5-4 all-time advantage over the Phoenix at Kaplan Arena. Elon is looking to bounce back after dropping their season-opener 3-1 to VCU Tuesday evening.
William & Mary Athletics announced all sports for the 2021 spring season will begin without fans in attendance. In making this decision, the university is following the guidance of university, local and state officials to help protect the community's health.
As part of the Commonwealth's measures addressing COVID-19, sports venues in Virginia are limited to 250 spectators. To begin the season, select programs will have a limited pass list to allow a small number of student-athletes' and coaches' family and friends to attend events based on specific venue requirements and observing appropriate public health protocols.
