"Every time we lose, I'm always looking forward to that next match when I can get revenge," senior outside hitter and middle back Caroline Lemke said.
The Phoenix enters this weekend's play after suffering two defeats on the road, the second of which was to a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga team that entered the match 3-16 and had won just one conference game.
After getting beat in the first set 25-15, the Phoenix lost a close second set. After winning the third and having the lead for part of the fourth, the Elon's momentum ended, and the team lost its fourth conference match of the season in four sets.
"It was a rough weekend for us," junior libero Ali Deatsch said. "We worked hard, but we couldn't come through this weekend."
The Mocs followed a script similar to the one Samford University employed the day before in Birmingham, where the Bulldogs dropped Elon in four sets.
Like UT Chattanooga, Samford won the first two sets and dropped a close third. There was nothing close about the fourth set, as the Bulldogs cruised to a 25-12 victory.
Elon's road woes have bitten them early on in the SoCon season. The Phoenix's record is now 2-4 in the conference, and the team has lost all four conference road games.
"When you have a home crowd cheering for you and you don't have to travel it's a little bit easier to play," head coach Mary Tendler said. "It's always easier to play at home than it is on the road."
Elon has not had any trouble at home this year. The Phoenix sits at 10-3 in matches in Alumni Gym this season, which includes two of the 2011 season's six SoCon matches.
This weekend, Elon looks to add to this success with a pair of matches against Davidson College and the aforementioned Eagles 2 p.m. Saturday in Alumni Gym.
Davidson will try to exact the same type of revenge upon the Phoenix as Elon looks to inflict on Georgia Southern. The Phoenix ended the Wildcats season in last year's SoCon tournament. Saturday's match against Davidson will be Elon's Dig Pink match. The Phoenix will wear pink and raise money for breast cancer awareness. This is the fifth year the team has hosted the Dig Pink event.
But the real test will be Sunday afternoon's tilt with the defending conference champions from Georgia Southern.
With their backs against the wall, Elon players watched as their season ended in flames last year. They hope that Sunday they will be the ones holding the torches.